Hemant Karkare then teamed up there with SPI Vijay Salaskar and ACP Ashok Kamte.
SPI Vijay Salaskar was a well-known encounter specialist who was the head of the Anti-Extortion Cell in Mumbai. He was reportedly responsible for the killing of 75-80 criminals. Amongst his most famous cases, was his pursuit of the former Mumbai don, Arun Gawli, currently an MLA.
ACP Ashok Kamte was a highly decorated police officer who was also a talented athlete, who had represented India in the junior power lifting championships in Peru in 1978.
Along with four constables, the officers boarded a Toyota Qualis and proceeded to the hospital.
Five minutes into their journey, they were ambushed by two terrorists with AK-47's, who opened fire indiscriminately on the men trapped in the Qualis. The three officers were killed instantly, despite their protective attire, and the constables at the back where helpless as the bullets flew into them.
Constable Arun Jadhav, the sole survivor of the attack, was helpless to do anything as the terrorists dragged the dead and dying men out of the car while he lay wounded on the road.
Following their deaths, all three men were awarded the Ashoka Chakra in recognition of the sacrifices they had made.
