People of Satara district in western Maharashtra, from where braveheart Tukaram Ombale hailed, have come up with a befitting memorial for him and other 26/11 martyrs.

The memorial, called Shaheed Smriti Udyan, will comprise about 2,300 flower plants and also 18 large trees, one each for the 26/11 martyr, Chairman of the Kisan Veer Cooperative sugar Factory, Madan Bhosale, told PTI here.

The memorial comprises an 18-feet high fibre plate, erected on a 60 feet by 40 feet map of Maharashtra, built in stone, in an area covering 1500 square feet.

Of the 18 security personnel killed during Mumbai terror attacks, five were from Satara district. They included Ombale, Jaywant Dudhe-Patil, police sub-inspector Bapurao Durgude, Assistant Sub Inpector Balasaheb Bhosale and police constable Ambadas Pawar.

Omble, who lost his life but helped nab Ajmal Kasab alive, was a native of Kedambe village in Jawali taluka.

Durgude hailed from Bhirdachiwadi in Wai taluka.

The memorial has come up in the sugar factory premises. "The idea struck me on the first anniversary of the 26/11 terror attacks and has materialised now," Bhosale, who has been controlling the factory for seven years, said.

Each of the 18 trees will have a brief profile of the martyr, so that school children and others who visit the memorial can get inspiration from the martyrs' bravery, Bhosale, son of former MPCC chief Prataprao Bhosale, said.

"Our factory was the first organisation in the state to give Rs one lakh each to the families of martyrs from Satara killed in the 26/11 attack," Bhosale said. Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam handed over the compensation.

"After 26/11, I went to meet Durgude's family. All the women bust into tears. His father, who is over 80 years old, reprimanded them for crying. He said Durgude has not died in a road accident but has laid down his life for the country," Bhosale said.

Besides the five martyrs from Satara, the memorial's fibre plate will have faces of Anti-Terrorism Squad chief Hemant Karkare, Additional Commissioner of Police Ashok Kamte, encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar and Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, Bhosale said.