Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) commando Bhrigu Nandan Choudhary laid down his life fighting Maoists in Bihar last year and saved the lives of scores of his colleagues. This gallant action saw the Government conferring Kirti Chakra, the second highest peacetime gallantry award, on him on Republic Day. Incidentally, he became the lone recipient of the Kirti Chakra amongst the paramilitary forces this year.
A commando of the elite COBRA force of the CRPF, Choudhary fought till the end despite heavily outnumbered by Maoists in an ambush in Chakrabandha, Bihar on September 12 last year. Despite suffering serious wounds in both his legs, the daredevil commando kept firing at the Maoists and not only saved the lives of the entire squad but also ensured that Maoists were not able to snatch the weapons of the CRPF personnel.
His citation said that the commando had received bullet injuries on his legs but that did not deter him from “crawling under excruciating pain” and helping his fellow trooper Daleep Singh change the magazine of his weapon which had slipped out of his hands because of the impact of a blast. The CRPF this year bagged 15 bravery medals amongst police and paramilitary forces. Two constables namely Ugrasen Tripathi and Santosh Singh of COBRA force were awarded President’s Police Medal for gallantry (posthumous) for fighting Naxals.