Scaling Walls into Chaos: How Three Bihar Police Officers Showed Extraordinary Bravery to Reclaim Chhapra Jail

When most of Bihar was still stirring from festive Holi slumber, a dramatic battle for control was unfolding inside Chhapra district jail — a crisis that would later become a symbol of courage, grit, and unwavering resolve within the Bihar Police.

At the heart of this explosive situation stood then Saran Superintendent of Police Kundan Krishnan, accompanied only by his bodyguard Jitendra Singh and local Station House Officer Arjun Lal.

Defying conventional police protocol and risking their lives, the trio made a bold decision that ultimately turned the tide against more than a thousand rioting inmates who had transformed the jail into a fortified battleground.

What awaited them inside was nothing short of a volcanic eruption of violence.

The unrest had begun on March 28, 2002, after orders were issued to transfer five notorious criminals to other prisons.

Enraged inmates revolted, overpowering jail staff, seizing weapons, and using gas cylinders, crude explosives, and stones to block all entry points.

The massive iron main gate was barricaded with stacked cylinders — a deadly trap meant to explode if security forces tried to breach it from outside.

For three days, nearly 1,200 prisoners held the complex hostage.

They climbed rooftops and trees, hurling stones and improvised “string bombs” at anyone who approached. Government property was destroyed, staff assaulted, and the jail turned into a fortress of defiance.

Amid Holi celebrations, supporters from outside the walls even managed to throw supplies into the jail, keeping the rebellion alive.

Authorities cut off water and electricity, hoping hunger and exhaustion would force surrender. Negotiations stretched over two days, but nothing worked.

By March 30, the situation had reached a breaking point.

“There was pressure from every side,” Krishnan later recalled. “It had become a do-or-die moment.”

A coordinated assault was planned, with teams entering from multiple points to distract the rioters.

But when two of the teams failed to scale the walls under heavy attack, Krishnan made a split-second decision that would define his legacy.

With only a carbine in hand and flanked by Arjun Lal and Jitendra Singh, the senior officer climbed the towering jail walls himself.

They dropped onto the roof of the administrative building and descended straight into the chaos — surrounded by hundreds of violent inmates and without immediate backup.

Inside the yard, the danger was immense. The cylinders stacked behind the gate could explode at any moment.

Braving stones, blasts and relentless assault, the trio manually dragged the cylinders away, clearing the deadly barricade.

Only then could forces outside cut open the main gate and pour in.

What followed was a four-hour-long battle as police fired tear gas, used grenades and resorted to controlled firing to subdue the uprising and prevent a massive jailbreak.

When calm finally returned, the prison yard was strewn with seized firearms, ammunition and remnants of crude bombs.

Seven prisoners and 28 police personnel were injured, while four inmates lost their lives.

Krishnan himself was wounded.

“A stone cracked my finger bone, and then a bomb blast blew my shoe right off,” he later said with a smile, recalling the intensity of the moment.

Nearly 24 years later, the bravery displayed during that perilous operation has finally been officially honoured.

On Republic Day 2026, Kundan Krishnan — now the Director General (Operations) of Bihar Police — along with Arjun Lal (now retired as a DSP) and Jitendra Singh (currently a sub-inspector in Patna), were awarded the prestigious Medal for Gallantry.

The recognition stands as a tribute to their fearless leadership and unwavering determination in the face of overwhelming danger.

In addition, two Bihar Police officers received the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service, while 17 others were honoured with the Medal for Meritorious Service. CBI officers in Patna’s Anti-Corruption Branch — DSP Ruby Chaudhary and Head Constable Bhola Rai — were also among the awardees.

Bihar Director General of Police Vinay Kumar congratulated all the recipients, praising their dedication and courage in safeguarding public order under extreme conditions.

The Chhapra jail operation remains etched in Bihar’s policing history — a powerful reminder of how valour, discipline and determination can defuse even the most explosive situations.

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