Davidcza at 21:20, 28 March 2026

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{{Short description|Indian police officer}}
{{BLP sources|date=May 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}
{{obit|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox police officer
| name = Ashok Kamte
| image = Qayyum Inamdar Solapur.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Shri Ashok Kamte with Dr. Prabhakar Budhavant and Qayyum Inamdar in an event organized by Solapur District Chemist and Druggist Association
| birth_date = {{birth date|1965|02|23|df=yes}}
| birth_place = India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2008|11|26|1965|02|23|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]], India
| other_names = Ashok Kampte
| known_for =
| department = [[Indian Police Service]] [[Police officer|officer]]
| service_years = 1989–2008
| rank = [[File:Deputy Inspector General of Police.png|50px]] [[Additional Commissioner of Police]]
| awards = [[File:Ashoka Chakra ribbon.svg|30px]] [[Ashoka Chakra (military decoration)|Ashoka Chakra]]
| honorific prefix = '''[[Additional Commissioner of Police]]'''
| honorific suffix = [[Ashok Chakra|AC]] [[Indian Police Service|IPS]]
}}

'''Ashok Kamte''' [[Ashoka Chakra (military decoration)|AC]] (23 February 1965 – 26 November 2008) was an Indian police officer, serving as the [[Deputy Inspector General of Police|Additional Commissioner]] of the [[Mumbai Police]] supervising the Eastern region. He was killed in action during the [[2008 Mumbai attacks]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Three-top-cops-die-on-duty/articleshow/3762023.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022112030/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-11-27/mumbai/27909298_1_encounter-specialist-ips-officer-malegaon |url-status=live |archive-date=22 October 2012 |title=Three top cops were martyred on duty |date=27 November 2008 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=27 November 2008}}</ref> He was posthumously given the [[Ashoka Chakra (military decoration)|Ashoka Chakra]] on 26 January 2009.<ref name="ashoka">{{cite web |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/11-security-personnel-to-get-ashok-chakra/83597-3.html |title=11 security personnel to get Ashok Chakra |date=24 January 2009 |website=[[IBNLive]] |access-date=25 January 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203074058/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/11-security-personnel-to-get-ashok-chakra/83597-3.html |archive-date=3 February 2009}}</ref>

==Personal background==
The son of [[Lieutenant-Colonel]] Marutirao Narayanrao Kamte (August 22, 1929 – 13 January 2014) and his first wife Perm Kamte, Ashok Kamte was born on 23 February 1965 in a [[Marathi people|Marathi]] family with a long tradition of police service. His great-grandfather, [[Rao Bahadur]] Marutirao Kamte [[King's Police Medal|KPM]] [[Indian Police Medal|IPM]], had served in the [[Indian Imperial Police]] from 1895 to 1923, while his grandfather Narayanrao Kamte [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]] [[King's Police Medal|KFSM]]<ref>{{Cite news |title=Page 1 {{!}} Supplement 38161, 30 December 1947 {{!}} Londo... |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38161/supplement/1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241219222526/https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38161/supplement/1 |archive-date=2024-12-19 |access-date=2025-09-07 |work=The Gazette |language=en-GB}}</ref> also joined the [[Imperial Police]] in 1923, eventually serving as the first Indian [[Inspector-general of police|Inspector-General]] (Director-General) of the [[Maharashtra Police]] from 1947 to 1955.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sakaaltimes.com/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsId=5515769597201321965&SectionId=4924098573178130559&SectionName=Latest%20News&NewsDate=20140113&NewsTitle=Lt%20Col%20%28retired%29%20Marutirao%20Kamte%20passes%20away |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729084401/http://www.sakaaltimes.com/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsId=5515769597201321965&SectionId=4924098573178130559&SectionName=Latest%20News&NewsDate=20140113&NewsTitle=Lt%20Col%20%28retired%29%20Marutirao%20Kamte%20passes%20away |url-status=usurped |archive-date=29 July 2014 |title=Lt Col (retired) Marutirao Kamte passes away |date=13 January 2014 |newspaper=[[Sakaal Times]] |access-date=1 October 2018}}</ref>

Kamte's schooling consisted of The [[Rajkumar College, Rajkot|Rajkumar College]], [[Rajkot]], and then the [[Kodaikanal International School]] for five years. He was an international scholarship recipient at [[Camp Rising Sun (New York)|Camp Rising Sun]] in 1980 and subsequently graduated with the Class of 1982.

He completed his bachelor's degree from [[St. Xavier's College, Mumbai]], graduating in 1985 and a post-graduate degree in Arts from the [[St. Stephen's College, Delhi]], 1985–87.

An accomplished athlete, he represented India at the junior power-lifting championship in [[Peru]] in 1978.

Ashok Kamte was survived by his wife Vinita, their two sons Rahul and Arjun, and by his father, mother, and sister, Sharmila.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}

His wife subsequently co-authored a biography of her husband.<ref>{{cite news|last=Admin |first=Super |url=https://www.oneindia.com/2009/11/25/ashok-kamate-book-widow-wife-vinita-26-11.html |title=Ashok Kamate Book | Widow Wife Vinita | To The Last Bullet | 26/11 Mumbai Attacks | RTI Act |work=Oneindia.com |date=2009-11-25 |access-date=2018-10-02}}</ref>

==Death==
[[File:Smt. Vinita Ashok Kamte receiving Ashoka Chakra awarded to her husband Shri Ashok Marutrao Kamte (Posthumous) from the President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, during the 60th Republic Day Parade-2009, in New Delhi.jpg|right|thumb|Kamte’s widow Vinita receiving the [[Ashoka Chakra]] on behalf of Kamte from [[President of India|President]] [[Pratibha Patil]] on [[Republic Day (India)|26 January 2009]]]]
Ashok Kamte was [[killed in action]] by terrorists during the Mumbai attacks, on 26 November 2008 in a narrow lane between St. Xavier's College and the Rang Bhavan opposite Corporation Bank ATM just a stone away from Crime Branch office.

Kamte was well known for his cool temperament and negotiation skills; during the attacks he offered his assistance due to being Additional Commissioner of the East zone; an area not under attack. When he reached CST area, upon arriving at Azad Maidan Police Station (AMPS) he met with ATS Chief Hemant Karkare and other police officers; they took a Police Toyota Qualis in pursuit of the reported terrorists with Kamte armed with an [[AK47]]. When they reached rear entrance of the Cama and Albless Hospital (A women and children's hospital) which is next to AMPS, Kamte spotted and fired at terrorists with the terrorists retaliating by throwing [[hand grenade]]s; with this situation Kamte suggested that they should take on the terrorists from the front entrance of the Cama. At this point the terrorists had left the Cama area before the Kamte's plan could be implemented; during pursuit the police received a report that the terrorists were hiding behind a red car in the same lane. At around the same time a terrorist was spotted running from the area which Kamte fired at, injuring him. The terrorist [[Ajmal Kasab]] was the only terrorist to be captured alive during the attacks. As they were about to get down another Pakistani terrorist, Ismail Khan fired a volley of bullets killing all but Asst. Police Inspector Arun Jadhav. Kamte was hit in the head; although he was wearing helmet with no [[ballistic vest]].{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}

''India Express'' quotes statements by API Arun Jadhav, who was with the officers Ashok Kamte, [[Vijay Salaskar]] and [[Hemant Karkare]] when they died.<ref name=IndiaExpress29-11>{{cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/witness-account-of-karkare-kamte-and-salaskars-death/392181/ |title=Witness Account of Karkare, Kampte and Salaskar's Death |date=29 November 2008 |newspaper=[[The Indian Express]] |access-date=1 October 2018 }}</ref>
The three officers and four constables had received information that [[Sadanand Date]] had been injured in the gunfire at the [[Cama Hospital|Cama and Albless Hospital]] for women and children.
Currently located at [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus]] (CST), a ten-minute drive from the hospital,<ref name=IndiaExpress29-11 /> they took a [[Toyota Qualis]] and proceeded in that direction. Kamte was in the passenger seat, Salaskar driving, Karkare in the second row, and the four Constables, including Jadhav, were in the back row of seating.<ref name=IndiaExpress29-11 /> According to Jadhav, five minutes later two terrorists stepped out from behind a tree and opened fire with [[AK-47]] automatic rifles.<ref name=IndiaExpress29-11 /> Kamte was the sole officer who managed to retaliate, wounding terrorist Ajmal in the arm.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.mid-day.com/news/2009/jan/100109-Injured-Ajmal-killed-Ombale-Maria.htm |title=Injured Ajmal killed Ombale: Maria |date=10 January 2009 |newspaper=[[Mid-Day]] |access-date=7 March 2013}}</ref> The six policemen, other than Jadhav, were all killed quickly in the gunfire.<ref name=IndiaExpress29-11 /> The wounded Jadhav had no opportunity to render assistance. The two terrorists approached the vehicle, dumped the bodies of the three officers on the road and, leaving the constables for dead, proceeded to [[Metro Junction Mall|Metro Junction]].<ref name=IndiaExpress29-11 /> Upon arrival, they aimed three bursts of automatic fire at police and journalist vehicles drawn up at that location, then drove off towards the government offices ([[Vidhan Sabha|Vidhan Bhawan]]) in South Mumbai. Here again they fired several times. While attempting to leave the area, one of the tyres of the vehicle burst, so the terrorists departed to obtain another. At this point, Jadhav was able to contact headquarters. The bodies of the dead were promptly recovered and taken to [[St George Hospital, Mumbai|St George Hospital]].

Kamte was cremated with state honours at the Vaikunth crematorium on 27 November 2008.

==See also==
* [[Havaldar Gajender Singh]]
* [[Sandeep Unnikrishnan]]
* [[Hemant Karkare]]
* [[Vijay Salaskar]]
* [[Tukaram Omble]]
* [[Sadanand Date]]
{{Portal bar|India|Biography}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{cite news |url=http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/getpage.aspx?articles=yes&pageid=4&max=true&articleid=Ar00403&sectid=3edid=&edlabel=TOIM&mydateHid=18-05-2010&pubname=Times+of+India+-+Mumbai+-+Times+City&title=A+ROCK-SOLID+TRIBUTE+TO+26%2F11+MARTYR+COPS&edname=&publabel=TOI |title=Rock-Solid Tribute To 26/11 Martyrs |newspaper=The Times of India |date=18 May 2010 |access-date=7 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713204727/http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/getpage.aspx?articles=yes |archive-date=13 July 2014 |url-status=dead}}
*{{cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_satara-factory-puts-up-26-11-martyrs-memorial_1384294 |title=Satara factory puts up 26/11 martyrs' memorial |first=Neeta |last=Kolhatkar |date=17 May 2010 |newspaper=[[Daily News and Analysis]]}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.obituaryindia.com/viewad.asp?id=50329570375100001 |title=Kamte, Ashok |website=Obituary India |access-date=9 February 2011 |archive-date=24 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524211325/http://www.obituaryindia.com/viewad.asp?id=50329570375100001 |url-status=dead}}

{{2008 Mumbai attacks}}
{{Ashoka Chakra award recipients}}
{{Indian civil servants}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kamte, Ashok}}
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:2008 deaths]]
[[Category:Kodaikanal International School alumni]]
[[Category:Deaths by firearm in India]]
[[Category:Indian police officers killed in the line of duty]]
[[Category:Indian Police Service officers]]
[[Category:Marathi people]]
[[Category:Police officers from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Ashoka Chakra (military decoration)]]
[[Category:Terrorism victims in India]]
[[Category:Victims of the 2008 Mumbai attacks]]

Ashok Kamte - Revision history

Davidcza at 21:20, 28 March 2026