A new species of spider, Icius Tukarami, has been named after assistant sub-inspector Tukaram Omble, the hero of 26/11, who was responsible for the capture of terrorist Ajmal Kasab.
The coinage ‘Icius Tukarami’ first copped up in a paper published by a team of researchers which dwelt on "two new species of the genera Phintella and Icius from Maharashtra".
The research puts it in perspective: The specific epithet is dedicated to a hero of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, ASI Tukaram Omble AC, who captured the main terrorist.
The assistant sub-inspector stood in front of Kasab and took multiple bullets at point-blank range to safeguard the other police officers present at the spot. Tukaram Omble was awarded India's highest peacetime gallantry award Ashoka Chakra for his bravery.
In his memoir, former Mumbai police commissioner Rakesh Maria wrote that Omble's action was key to foiling of Lashkar-e-Taiba's plans.
