BHIBHU BHUSAL

POKHARA: Bishnu Prasad Shrestha (35) of Baidam in Pokhara was returning home after 17 years of service at Ranchi-based 7/8 Gorkha Regiment in the Indian state of Jharkhanda on September 2, 2010 following his retirement.

All of a sudden, the Mourya Express Rail on which he was travelling ground to a halt at Chitaranjan forest in West Bengal at midnight. Taking advantage, a group of 40 robbers brandishing swords and knives got on board the train and began robbing the passengers. Bishnu too was forced to hand over everything he had to the looters. After the miscreants robbed the passengers, they turned their gaze on a 29-year-old woman sitting in the same apartment in the train.

Initially, they tried to force her to take off her clothes. Upon her refusal, they tried to rape her in front of her father’s eyes. She pleaded Bishnu to intervene and save her life to which Bishnu responded. He drew out a knife and stabbed three of the robbers to death to the sight of which rest of the looters fled the scene.

Thus, the life of the lady, a medical student, was saved while Bishnu sustained injuries on his left hand and had to remain in hospital for one month.

Soon after the incident, Indian media published the news with priority. The Indian government has decided to postpone his retirement for five years. It has rewarded him with IRS 50,000 in cash along with a silver knife and is to confer three prestigious medals on him on India’s Independence Day. The Indian President will confer the prestigious ‘Sourya medal’ on him. He will also be awarded supreme ‘Jivanrakshya medal’ and ‘Indian Army Bravery Award’.

The Indian Army has deployed two of its soldiers as his bodyguards for his leave. Bishnu is heading to India on Saturday. The two Indian Army soldiers will be coming to the Lake City to escort him to India. Bishnu informed that the family of the lady, whose life he had saved, has announced to award him IRs 3 lakh for his bravery. Chitaranjan Railway Service has declared to reward him with IRs 5 lakh.