In a tragic incident, CRPF Constable Praneswar Koch from Magur Mari village in Assam’s Kokrajhar district was martyred during a fierce engagement with Naxals in Bokaro district, Jharkhand, on Wednesday morning. A member of the elite 209 CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) unit, Constable Koch’s dedication to duty ultimately cost him his life in the line of service.
The operation was carried out in cooperation between the 209 CoBRA unit and the Jharkhand Police, commencing around 6:30 AM. It aimed at dismantling a Naxal hideout nestled within a dense forested area. In the intense confrontation that followed, security forces successfully neutralized a notorious Sub-Zonal Naxal Commander, Kunwar Manjhi, who is also known by the aliases Sahdeo Manjhi and Sade. An AK-47 rifle was among the items recovered from the encounter scene.
Constable Koch’s ultimate sacrifice has spotlighted the ongoing struggle against left-wing extremism in India. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed heartfelt condolences, stating, “Assam’s braveheart and Maa Bharti’s son CT/GD Praneswar Koch of Kokrajhar attained martyrdom fighting Naxals in Jharkhand. The people of Assam salute his sacrifice and offer our thoughts and prayers to his family. We will always stand by them. His martyrdom will not go in vain as our forces continue to eliminate Naxalism from the face of the earth.”
The Director General of CRPF, GP Singh, also took to social media to pay tribute to Koch, acknowledging his bravery and sacrifice. “CT/GD Praneswar Koch, of Vill – Magur Mari, Distt: Kokrajhar, Assam, posted to 209 CoBRA, CRPF attained martyrdom this morning in an anti-Naxal operation where two Naxals were also neutralized. The entire CRPF family salutes his supreme sacrifice and re-dedicates itself to eliminating the scourge of Naxalism from our country. Rest in peace, brother,” he wrote.
Koch’s martyrdom has resonated deeply, causing a wave of grief and pride across Assam and beyond. It serves as a stark reminder of the continuous sacrifices made by India’s security forces in their relentless fight against insurgent threats plaguing the nation’s interior regions.
