Indian Navy MARCOS operation in Hotel Taj during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks (CQB not seen in CCTV)

The story and role of Praveen Kumar Teotia, MARCOs officer (marine commandos - Special Forces of India Navy) in the deadliest terror attack in India's History by the Pakistani terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT).

(Praveen Kumar Teotia)

The Indian waters from where the terrorists entered were compromised that day due to the ongoing naval excercise in which the MARCOs also took part of which the terrorists took the advantage of

The central government at that time failed to take the necessary actions and as a result the MARCOs were ordered to move in Taj Hotel by a politician without any permission from the central government. As a result the MARCOs stepped in without any proper equipments like bullet proof helmets, no suitable vests to stop high calibre bullets, no communication sets, no proper weapons so had to adjust with AKs and most importantly without any blueprint of the Floor plans of the Taj Hotel

The hotel lobby was well lit but the room where the MARCOs were entering was pitch black. A Hotel manager who was well aware about the where abouts of the hotel guided them in telling where the light switch was supposed to be. Relying on the info, Teotia led his team slowly into the room when he heard two guns cocked by the mere sound of which he recognised they were two AK47s and that the terrorists had put them into burst mode.

And before Teotia could process anything the firefight with the 4 terrorists began. Here's a video of him in an interview explaining the exchange with the enemies.

(Teotia being taken for treatment)

Teotia couldn't communicate with his team who were right outside the room including his buddy who ran outside assuming Teotia to be dead due the headshot he recieved as any sound he gave would be the direction the terrorists would fire in.

Teotia lobbed a grenade knowing very well that it would kill him along with the terrorists.

Unfortunately the grenade didn't blast which was a major turning point in the incident which resulted in the stretching of the operation and having the NSG commandos to be called in.

Teotia's team, who assumed him to be dead by now, threw a tear gas grenede inside the room which burst right next to the now injured Teotia.

Teotia who was Injured, cut off by all sort of communications, alone with ammunition running out and now with the oxygen cutting off due to the tear gas, gave up and blindly opened fire killing one terrorist and turned back to run outside the room which resulted in him being shot 4 times with one bullet piercing his lung.

This act of bravery of him led to about 150 hostages being rescued including the Indian Billionaire Gautam Adani, a few Members of Parliament and many foreign nationals.

He was later awarded by Shaurya Chakra awarded for valour, courageous action and self-sacrifice