In a solemn moment for the nation, CRPF Constable Praneswar Koch, a braveheart from Magur Mari village in Assam’s Kokrajhar district, was martyred during a fierce encounter with Naxals in Jharkhand’s Bokaro district on Wednesday morning. The fallen jawan served in the elite 209 CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) unit of the Central Reserve Police Force.
The operation, jointly launched by the 209 CoBRA unit and the Jharkhand Police around 6:30 AM, targeted a Naxal hideout in a dense forest area of Bokaro. In the ensuing gun battle, security forces neutralised a dreaded Sub-Zonal Naxal Commander identified as Kunwar Manjhi, also known by his aliases Sahdeo Manjhi and Sade. An AK-47 rifle was recovered from the site of the encounter.
Constable Koch lost his life in the line of duty during this high-risk mission, becoming a symbol of courage and sacrifice in the fight against left-wing extremism. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed deep grief over the loss, 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.”
CRPF Director General GP Singh also paid tribute to the martyred jawan on social media, writing, “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 neutralised. 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.”
The martyrdom of Praneswar Koch has sparked an outpouring of grief and pride across Assam and the nation, reminding citizens once again of the ongoing battle waged by India’s security forces against insurgent threats in the country’s heartlands.
