17 Years On, Bullet Still Near His Heart: NSG Commando Sunil Jodha's Unforgettable 26/11 Battle

India on Wednesday marked the 17th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, remembering the courage and sacrifice of security personnel who fought one of the darkest nights in modern Indian history.

Nearly two decades have passed since terrorists from Pakistan-backed Lashkar-e-Taiba unleashed mayhem across Mumbai, killing 166 people and injuring hundreds.Among the heroes remembered today is NSG Commando Sunil Kumar Jodha, who was part of the elite assault team led by Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan that stormed the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel on the morning of November 27, 2008, to neutralise the armed terrorists inside.Jodha was just days away from completing his 60-day NSG training when he rushed into Operation Black Tornado, according to a report by TOI. Still in his Army combat uniform, he pulled on commando dungarees over it, grabbed the first bulletproof jacket he could find, and boarded a special aircraft with his team for Mumbai after a brief mission briefing.

How that morning unfolded

Entering the Taj around 7 am, Jodha led from the front through blood-soaked corridors, evacuating 40–45 trapped guests while engaging the terrorists at close range. During intense firefighting on the sixth floor, he was hit by multiple rounds. He took eight bullets, three in his left hand, one in his right palm, two in his right shoulder, and one in his chest. Despite the injuries, he remained motionless on the staircase, pretending to be dead to avoid further fire. Ultimately, he managed to walk to the ambulance, bleeding heavily, before collapsing. Surgeons later removed seven bullets from his body. One bullet and grenade shrapnel remain lodged near his heart, too risky to extract. He remained unconscious for four days after the operation.Today, 17 years later, the commando's son, who was just two-and-a-half months old during the attack, is now 17.As India observes the anniversary of the attack, the country remembers heroes like Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, who laid down his life, and Commando Sunil Jodha, who survived with a bullet still next to his heart, an eternal reminder of his service.