Udesign at 06:26, 2 March 2026

2026-03-02T06:26:41Z

New page

{{short description|Gurkha soldier}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Bishnu Prasad Shrestha
| native_name = विष्णु श्रेष्ठ kulkarni
| native_name_lang = ne
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1975}}
| birth_place = [[Parbat district|Parbat]], [[Nepal]]
| occupation = Gurkha soldier ([[8th Gorkha Rifles]])
| known_for = Showing bravery in Maurya Express robbery incident
| awards = [[Sena Medal]]<br> [[Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak]]
}}

'''Bishnu Prasad Shrestha'''<ref name="pibgovindia" /> (born 1975) is a [[Nepalis|Nepalese]] [[Gurkha]] soldier in the [[Indian Army]] (7th battalion the [[8th Gorkha Rifles]]) and recipient of the [[Sena Medal]]<ref name= Sena368>{{cite press release | url= https://archive.pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=79889| title= 368 Republic Day Gallantry and other Defence Decorations Announced| publisher= Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Defence, Government of India| date= 25 January 2012 | url-status= live| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20230213100837/https://archive.pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=79889| archivedate= 13 February 2023| accessdate= 29 April 2025}}</ref> for bravery and the [[Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak]] medal<ref name= "pibgovindia">{{cite press release |url= http://pibmumbai.gov.in/scripts/detail.asp?releaseId=E2012PR2065 |title=Jeevan Raksha Padak announced |publisher= Press Information Bureau, Indian Government| website= pibmumbai.gov.in |date=6 January 2012 | place= Mumbai |url-status= dead| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20130807180349/http://pibmumbai.gov.in/scripts/detail.asp?releaseId=E2012PR2065| archivedate= 7 August 2013 |accessdate= 29 April 2025}}</ref><ref name="xnepali">{{cite web |url= https://xnepali.net/a-gurkha-soldier-who-fought-40-train-robbers-to-be-felicitated-in-the-republic-day-of-india/ |title= A Gurkha soldier, who fought 30 train robbers| first= Anand| last= Nepal| website= XNepali.com| date= 16 January 2011 |publisher= | accessdate= 29 April 2025}}</ref> for his gallant conduct during an armed train robbery.

==Early life, family and education==
Shrestha was born in Bachchha Deurali Khola, ward no. 9 of [[Parbat District|Parbat district]] in the western part of [[Nepal]].

He and his family moved to [[Pokhara]] after being recruited to an Indian [[Gorkha regiments (India)|Gurkha regiment]]. His father Gopal Babu also served in the same 7/8 Platoon, retiring in 1981.<ref name= "myrepublica1">{{cite web |url=http://archives.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=27100 |title=Lone Nepali Gorkha who subdued 40 train robbers |publisher= | first1= Manoj| last1= Adhirkari| first2= Santosh| last2= Pokharel| work= myrepublica.com |date=13 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20131222133313/http://archives.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=27100 |archivedate=22 December 2013 |accessdate= 28 April 2025}}</ref><ref name="myrepublica2">{{cite web |url=http://archives.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=27132 |title=Govt's special honor for gallant Gorkha| date= 13 January 2011 |place= Kathmandu |publisher= | work= myrepublica.com |archive-date=3 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103142216/http://archives.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=27132 |url-status=dead |accessdate= 29 April 2025}}</ref>

==Train robbery incident==
[[File:Sena Medal.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Sena Medal]], awarded by the Indian government "''for such individual acts of exceptional devotion to duty or courage as have special significance for the Army''"|282x282px]]
In September 2010, Bishnu Shrestha was a 35{{efn|Sometimes reported as 45<ref name= "takes on" />}}-year-old Gurkha soldier who had just retired.<ref name= "myrepublica1" /> He was traveling from [[Ranchi]] to [[Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh]] via the Maurya Express (Hatia-Gorakhpur) train when between 15 and 40<ref name= "telegraphindia">{{cite news |url= http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100904/jsp/bengal/story_12895050.jsp |archive-url= https://archive.today/20130204044854/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100904/jsp/bengal/story_12895050.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 February 2013 |title= 6 arrested for train robbery, injuring 20 |publisher= | work= telegraphindia.com |date=3 September 2010 |accessdate=3 January 2014}}</ref><ref name= "myrepublica1" /> robbers, armed with "guns, daggers and tangis" stopped the train they were on near [[Chittaranjan]], [[West Bengal]], and robbed and injured other passengers.<ref name= "takes on" />

Shrestha was asleep when the bandits reached him.<ref name= "takes on" /> Awakened, he was preparing to hand over his valuables, but an 18-year-old girl next to him was grabbed by the robbers who intended to rape her. The girl, who was traveling with her parents,<ref name= "myrepublica1" /> called for help. As one of the bandits was snatching a woman's earrings, Shrestha pulled out the large, curved [[kukri|khukuri]] that all Gurkha soldiers carry and attacked the criminals, injuring three of them, he recalled,<ref name="telegraphindia" /> although another report stated three bandits were killed and eight more were injured.<ref name= "myrepublica1" />

Shrestha told the ''[[Times of India]]'':
{{quote|I am a soldier and get paid to protect citizens of this country. I could not sit back and watch as passengers were looted. I pulled out my khukuri and attacked the criminals. I succeeded in connecting with at least three of them. The blows were severe and they must have got themselves admitted to some hospital. By then, the criminals started fighting back. They fired a shot that missed me. At one point of time, the khukuri fell from my hand and I was overpowered. They picked it up and used it on me.<ref name= "takes on">{{cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Soldier-takes-on-dacoits-on-trainGang-Of-30/articleshow/6488820.cms | title=Soldier takes on dacoits on train Gang Of 30 | publisher= | work= [[Times of India]] | date=4 September 2010 | accessdate=19 September 2014}}</ref>}}

Bleeding and defeated, Shrestha succeeding in preventing the assault of the girl, but the thieves continued robbing the passengers.<ref name= "takes on" />
Six robbers were arrested, according to a security commandant,<ref name="telegraphindia" /> and Rs 10,470 in cash, 33 mobile phones, 14 wristwatches, an ATM card, two pistols, live cartridges, and seven daggers in their possession were seized from them.<ref name="telegraphindia"/> Shrestha recovered full use of his injured hand after receiving two months of medical treatment. Another source reported that loot was recovered elsewhere that totaled "around 400,000 Indian rupees in cash, 40 gold necklaces, 200 cell phones, 40 laptops and other items that the fleeing robbers dropped in the train",<ref name= "myrepublica1" /> although the news report did not mention if these figures were confirmed by the authorities.

==Aftermath==
Shrestha was pleased by the appreciation he received and thanked the media for covering the news, remarking:
{{quote|The Indian media brought the incident to light and the [[Mass media in Nepal|Nepalese media]] too gave it due importance. I may have even been sent to jail on the charge of robbery had the girl and the Indian media not come forward to my support. I was hardly recognized even in [[Baidam]] [his neighbourhood]. Now the whole country knows me.<ref name="myrepublica2" />}} He was honored by many organizations (public and private), including mothers' groups, schools and political leaders.<ref name="myrepublica2" />

When the intended rape victim's family offered him a cash reward, he refused it, explaining, "Fighting the enemy in battle is my duty as a soldier. Taking on the thugs on the train was my duty as a human being."<ref name="myrepublica1"/> However, his regiment gave him a "cash reward of Rs. 50,000 and terminated his voluntary retirement, so that he could get a customary promotion after he receives the medals", as well as "cash rewards from the government, special discounts" on certain air and train travel fares.<ref name="xnepali" />

==In popular culture==
Bollywood music director, singer and actor [[Himesh Reshammiya]] announced that he would make a [[biopic]] on him based upon his heroics of the [[Maurya Express]] train robbery.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bhaskar.com/bollywood/news/himesh-reshammiya-acquired-rights-of-biopic-on-an-army-officer-bishnu-shrestha-01510361.html| title= कन्फर्म / आर्मी ऑफिसर बिष्णु श्रेष्ठ की बायोपिक बनाएंगे हिमेश रेशमिया, 4 नई फिल्मों में खुद करेंगे एक्टिंग| work= [[Dainik Bhaskar]]| language= hi| trans-title= Confirmed / Himesh Reshammiya will make the biopic of Army Officer Bishnu Shrestha, will himself act in 4 new films| date=31 March 2019| accessdate=1 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/himesh-reshammiya-buys-the-rights-of-the-bishnu-shrestha-biopic/articleshow/68654305.cms | title=Himesh Reshammiya buys the rights of the Bishnu Shrestha biopic| website=[[The Times of India]]| agency= TNN| date=31 March 2019| accessdate= 28 April 2025}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shrestha, Bishnu}}
[[Category:1975 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Gurkhas]]
[[Category:People from Parbat District]]
[[Category:People from Pokhara]]
[[Category:Newar people]]

Bishnu Shrestha - Revision history

Udesign at 06:26, 2 March 2026