"I wish I could have had an opportunity to kill Kasab and his associate at CST itself. If I could have done that, then I could have saved lives of several people including then ATS chief Hemant Karkare. It could have prevented them from going on a killing spree in the city," 55-year-old Yadav of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) told PTI.
Convicted Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab and his aide Ismail, had barged into the crowded CST station on the fateful night of November 26, 2008 and opened indiscriminate firing, killing over 50 persons.
Hearing the bullet shots, an alert Yadav, rushed to the spot when he saw the duo gunning down commuters. "I had no weapon in my hand. When I peeped, I found the two were walking on the station without any fear and firing randomly," he recalled.
Soon he saw a GRP man carrying a .303 rifle even as some other security personnel fled the spot. "I snatched the rifle from the policeman and fired at the duo. After a while, they escaped towards the Cama hospital," said Yadav, who was presented the President Police Medal besides Rs 10 lakh monetary reward.
At the Cama hospital, Karkare, Additional Police Commissioner Ashok Kamte and 'encounter specialist' Vijay Salaskar died fighting the two gunmen. Yadav was also one among who met US President Barack Obama during his recent visit to the city.
"I felt good meeting him..I wish to meet our President too. I hope my wish will be fulfiled," Yadav, who was promoted as Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI), in acknowledgment of his exemplary courage, said.