Prakash Ranjan Mishra; the second-in-command of 94th battalion of the CRPF is the proverbial cat among pigeons whom naxals fear more than the death.
Decorated for record seven times with awards like Shaurya Chakra, President’s gallantry medal and five-time police gallantry medal for displaying exemplary courage during anti-naxal operations — and many more medals aspiring to decorate his bullets ridden chest—Mishra yet again set an example of bravery.
He and his team eliminated a dreaded PLFI operative Jidan Gudia at village Koyangsar under Murhu police station of Khunti district on Monday morning.
The rebel Mishra and his team shot dead was not only carrying Rs 15 lakh cash prize on his head he was the second in command of PLFI known for his notoriety and brutality with over 100 cases pending against him.
“That was a narrow escape for him and his team. Gudia had opened burst fire upon them from a close range,” said a CRPF official.
“Khunti SP shared intelligence inputs that Gudia and his armed squad has been seen at Koyangsar, which is the bordering area of Murhu police station and Bandgaon police station of West Singhbhum district. A joint operation of CRPF and Jharkhand Police was planned headed by Mishra. Security personnel were divided in different groups and they started searching different hillocks. At one such hillock Mishra and five other personnel spotted Gudia. Before the team could react Gudia quickly sprayed as many as 30 rounds of bullets on them. They quickly took position and shot him dead in retaliatory fire. There was an exchange of fire for around an hour with other armed squad of PLFI,” said the official.
One AK 47 rifle, two bullet loaded magazines, one spent magazine besides 70 SIM cards and a wireless set were recovered during combing operation.
Besides medals, he received rare kind of acknowledgement for his bravery from the CRPF which published 44-page comics ‘Shoorveer Prakash’ highlighting his act of bravery.
A native of Bihar; Mishra joined CRPF in 2002 as an assistant commandant and was deployed in Assam where he executed many a successful operation against United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). In 2005 he was transferred to Jharkhand for a period of three years. Odisha was his next posting where he was posted at CoBRA battalion of CRPF. In 2011 he was sent back to 203 CoBRA battalion of CRPF in Jharkhand.
This was the period when he sustained as many as five bullet injures during an extremely difficult yet successful anti-naxal operation he led on the night of September 17, 2012 in Chatra. He challenged rebels to surrender, which was responded by fusillades of bullets from the house as well as adjoining maize fields. He suffered five bullet injuries despite profusely bleeding he continued to lead the team and engaged rebels. In this encounter one rebel was shot dead whereas other rebels suffered injuries. He forced naxals to withdraw and saved life of many innocent civilians and security personnel. This had won him gallantry award.
Later on, he was absorbed in Jharkhand Police on deputation basis for a period of three years where he remained posted as additional SP in Khunti and Chatra. After serving in Jharkhand, he was repatriated to CRPF and posted in Chhattisgarh. He remained there for four years. This month CRPF decided to bring its brave officer back to Jharkhand for specialized anti-naxal operation.
“He always come-up to expectation which he proved this time too. You can’t trust that there are still nine splinters of bullets in his chest that he suffered during 2012 encounter. He has no fear from death and he dares dreaded rebels in their den. He is actually nemesis of enemies of nation. He has seen and handled number of encounters, landmine blast. He himself might have forgotten the count of enemies he eliminated, arrested and defeated,” recalled one of the CRPF officer.
Probably, after Monday operation Mishra is tracking his next target.