Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan was born on March 15, 1977, in Kozhikode, Kerala. He hailed from a Nair family based in Bangalore, having originally come from Cheruvannur in Kozhikode District. The only child of ISRO officer Shri K. Unnikrishnan and Smt. Dhanalakshmi Unnikrishnan, Sandeep harbored the ambition of joining the Armed Forces from a young age. He spent 14 years at Frank Anthony Public School in Bangalore and graduated in 1995 with a focus on Science. Throughout his school years, he was actively involved in various activities, excelling in sports, and was also a member of the school choir. He had a fondness for watching movies.
Later, he joined the prestigious National Defence Academy, Pune, Maharastra in 1995 as a part of 94th Course of the NDA. His peers from the National Defence Academy (NDA) remember him for his selflessness, generosity, and calm composure. Following his time at the NDA, he joined the 104th IMA Course at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, from which he graduated in 1999. He was first commissioned to the 7th Battalion of the Bihar Regiment on 12 July 1999. Designated as 7 Bihar, it is an esteemed infantry unit within the Indian Army, renowned for its distinguished service record across various military operations and peacekeeping missions. Established in 1962, the battalion is part of the Bihar Regiment, one of the oldest and most prestigious regiments in the Indian Army. Over the years, 7 Bihar has actively participated in several key military engagements, including the Indo-Pakistani wars of 1965 and 1971, as well as counter-insurgency operations in the regions of Jammu and Kashmir and the North-East of India. The battalion has consistently demonstrated exceptional courage and professionalism, earning numerous commendations for its operational effectiveness. In addition to its combat role, 7 Bihar has also contributed to peacekeeping efforts under the auspices of the United Nations. Also, the Bihar Regiment is one of the regiments of the Indian Army, renowned for its bravery, resilience, and rich history. Formed in 1941, it has played a significant role in various military campaigns, including World War II, the Indo-Pakistani Wars, and numerous peacekeeping missions. Soldiers of the Bihar Regiment are known for their tenacity and discipline, often exemplifying the highest standards of military service. The regiment has earned numerous awards and decorations for gallantry, with its soldiers consistently displaying outstanding courage in the face of adversity. The Bihar Regiment’s motto, “Karma Veer,” emphasizes the values of duty, honor, and sacrifice, which continue to guide its legacy and contributions to the Indian Army.
Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan with his Father Shri K. Unnikrishnan and Mother Smt. Dhanalakshmi Unnikrishnan
Later, he was promoted from Lieutenant to Captain on 12 June 2003 and to Major on 13 June 2005. During the challenging ‘Ghatak Course’ at the Commando Wing, Infantry School in Belgaum, he topped the course, earning an “Instructor Grading” and commendation. He also attended the High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) in Gulmarg, where he received training in high-altitude warfare, counter-intelligence, and survival skills. His service in the Indian Army spanned various locations, including Siachen, Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, and Rajasthan.
Major UnniKrishnan Briefing Senior officers as the Training Officer of 51SAG, NSG
On 20 January 2007, he was deputed to the NSG at the 51 Special Action Group (51 SAG) which is a highly specialized and elite counter-terrorism unit of the National Security Guard (NSG) of India. Formed in 1984, it is tasked with handling operations requiring advanced tactical skills, including counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, and high-risk operations. The 51 SAG is trained in unconventional warfare and operates with precision in complex and sensitive environments. Members of the 51 SAG undergo rigorous selection and training in physical endurance, advanced marksmanship, and psychological resilience, enabling them to handle high-profile terrorist attacks and hostage situations with expertise in close-quarters combat and tactical response. The unit’s professionalism, discipline, and operational effectiveness have earned it a distinguished reputation in India’s security apparatus. As a member, he has since joined in various operations conducted by the elite force.
OPERATION BLACK TORNADO: NOV 2008
The 26/11 Mumbai attacks, which unfolded on November 26, 2008, were a tragic and horrifying series of coordinated terrorist strikes carried out by the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba. Over the course of several hours, gunmen targeted key locations in Mumbai, including the iconic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Oberoi Trident Hotel, CST Railway Station, and Nariman House. During these attacks, Maj Unnikrishnan was serving with 51 SAG, a special response unit of the NSG trained and equipped for counter-terrorism operations. One of the buildings where hostages were held was the 100-year-old Taj Mahal Palace Hotel and Maj Unnikrishnan was the team commander of 51 Special Action Group (51 SAG) deployed in the operation at the hotel to rescue the hostages. He entered the hotel with a group of 10 commandos and reached the sixth floor through the staircase. As the team descended the stairs, they suspected perpetrators on the third floor. A few women were held as hostages in a room that was locked from the inside. Major Sandeep not only waged a valiant battle against the terrorists but also did his best to save his injured colleagues. He led the team from the front and engaged the terrorists in a fierce gunfight.
The team decided to break open the door and when it was done the team faced a barrage of fire from the terrorists. The rounds of fire by the perpetrators hit Commando Sunil Yadav, who was Maj Unnikrishnan’s colleague. Maj Unnikrishnan engaged the perpetrators in a firefight and arranged for Yadav’s evacuation. Regardless of his personal safety, he chased the terrorists who, meanwhile escaped to another floor of the hotel, and while doing so Maj Unnikrishnan continously kept them engaged. Later he gave a chase to the terrorists who had escaped to another floor of the hotel. In the encounter that followed, he was shot in the back which proved fatal. His last words, according to NSG officials were, “Do not come up, I will handle them,”. His exceptional courage and leadership motivated his comrades to eliminate all the terrorists and complete the assigned mission successfully. Maj Sandeep Unnikrishnan was a valiant soldier and gritty officer, who led from the front and laid down his life at the age of 31 years in the line of his duty, following the highest traditions of Indian Army.
Proud Parents of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan
His funeral was held with full military honours and thousands of people lined up outside his Bangalore house to pay their respects. Maj Sandeep Unnikrishnan was given the nation’s highest peacetime gallantry award “Ashok Chakra” for his outstanding courage, unyielding fighting spirit and supreme sacrifice. Maj Sandeep Unnikrishnan is survived by his father Shri K. Unnikrishnan and mother Smt Dhanalakshmi Unnikrishnan and wife Neha Unnikrishnan.
The Mother Dairy Double Road in Bengaluru, a 4.5 km (2.8 mi) stretch from Federal Mogul on Doddaballapur Road to the MS Palya junction in Yelahanka New Town, has been renamed Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan Road in his honor. Additionally, a bust of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan has been installed at the Ramamurthy Nagar Outer Ring Road junction in Bengaluru, which is also named after him. A bust of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan stands at the entrance of the Indian Education Society on Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road in Mumbai. Additionally, an army housing complex in Whitefield, Bangalore, named ‘Sandeep Vihar,’ features a bust of Unnikrishnan prominently installed at its center.
Smt Dhanalakshmi Unnikrishnan, Mother of Shaheed Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, ‘Ashoka Chakra’ receiving the honours from the Hon’ble President of India Smt Pratibha Patil
Bust representation of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan Paid Tribute by a Soldier
Dr Arpita Biswas is a Research Fellow at the Center for Military History and Conflict Studies, USI of India. She specializes in India’s defence ecosystem, Indegenization, and Military-Industrial Complex. A JNU PhD graduate, she has published widely and currently working on the Gallantry Awards Portal Project with the Ministry of Defence.
