Manesh, a young National Security Guard (NSG) commando, was incapacitated in the 26/11 attack in Mumbai. But he has no regrets. He has lost control over the right portion of his body and uses a crutch to walk. “I have the satisfaction of having served my motherland,” the young and handsome former soldier told The Hindu. He was conferred the Shaurya Chakra for his act of bravery.

During an interview on the sidelines of the unveiling of the statue of Major Mangerira Muthanna here on Thursday, Havaldar Manesh recalled the horror of 26/11. He was part of the 250 NSG commandos airlifted from Delhi to fight the Pakistani attackers and positioned at Nariman Point, one of the spots targeted by the terrorists.

“I killed two of them,” he said proudly. While proceeding further, a terrorist lobbed a hand grenade, which landed on his helmet and exploded, blowing it to smithereens. He does not remember what happened afterwards, but he was shifted to a hospital by a rescue team. Three splinters of the grenade entered his head. “I still have one inside my skull,” he said. Doctors saved his life after a highly complicated surgery. “I was in coma for two months,” Havaldar Manesh said.

His heroics are not just limited to 26/11. He saw action in the Kargil conflict while serving with the 27 Madras Regiment and took a bullet in the hip. He was in hospital for two months, but it took him almost a year to fully recover. Later, he joined the NSG in Delhi and underwent rigorous training for six months before being drafted into service.

He recounts his Kodagu connection where his parents, Mukundan and Saraswati, lived in Jodubeeti near Ponnampet for several years. He is their third son. However, he now lives in Kannur in Kerala.

Havaldar Manesh killed two terrorists during the 26/11 Mumbai attack

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National / by Jeevan Chinnappa / Madikeri – December 11th, 2010