Cops misled me: Kamte's wife

Vinita Kamte, wife of late additional commissioner of police Ashok Kamte, who died fighting terrorists on November 26, has said the police misled her about the circumstances leading to her husband’s death.

Vinita Kamte, wife of late additional commissioner of police Ashok Kamte, who died fighting terrorists on November 26, has said the police misled her about the circumstances leading to her husband’s death.

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In an interview to CNN-IBN, Vinita said the three police officers critically injured outside Cama hospital — Kamte, ATS chief Hemant Karkare and encounter special Vijay Salaskar — could have been saved if additional forces and help had reached the spot on time.

“Everyone who came for condolences kept asking why the three had gone together. Politicians kept saying they were unprepared, they went in haste… so I wanted to know what actually transpired before the firing. I met a lot of people… drivers, ATS people, witnesses… and I was shocked to know these people were there together for at least 40 minutes.”

When Additional Commissioner Date’s gunman returned injured from Cama hospital, the three officers tried to break open the lock on the hospital’s door, Vinita said. “The terrorists fired in that direction and my husband gave retaliatory fire.”

After 40 minutes, Vinita said, no backup had arrived and the officers then decided to go to the front of the hospital and get Date.

“They got a [wireless] message saying there was a suspicious vehicle [near the gate],” she said. “Kamte asked inspector Vijay Salaskar to slow down. As they did, probably my husband saw movement in the bushes and they fired at each other.”

Vinita stressed that Kamte did not act impulsively but fought bravely.

“On the second day itself, I found that Kasab had been shot by my husband. But I still wanted to crosscheck. So I asked the people who actually saw it happen. Kamte opened the door, took position and opened fire….”