Bihar’s law enforcement landscape marks the retirement of one of its most daring officers, Bachchu Singh Meena, a 1996-batch IPS officer, who has been widely recognised for his fearless confrontation with the late gangster and RJD leader, Mohammed Shahabuddin. Meena, who was serving as Inspector General (IG), Special Range, will officially retire from service on Sunday.
Meena’s name rose to prominence during his tenure as Superintendent of Police (SP) in Siwan in 2001, a period when the district was notorious for its “bahubalis” (strongmen), with Shahabuddin being a dominant figure synonymous with crime and fear. Alongside CK Anil, then District Magistrate of Siwan, Meena took decisive steps to curb the strongman’s influence.
In a daring operation, Meena personally led a raid on Shahabuddin’s ancestral house in Pratappur village, Hussainganj Police Station, about 17 km from Siwan. The confrontation resulted in the death of eight gang members, and Meena himself narrowly escaped harm during a gunfight that witnesses and police personnel recall as one of the most intense encounters in the state’s history, with an estimated 2,500 rounds fired.
Authorities recovered a substantial cache of weapons from the house, including an AK-47 with 47 live cartridges and three magazines, a .313-bore rifle, a 9mm pistol with ten cartridges, two magazines, and two grenades. Shahabuddin publicly threatened Meena, vowing to target him and his family in Rajasthan.
Reflecting on the operation, Meena stated, “I did what I was supposed to do. Someone had to bell the cat, and destiny chose me.” He emphasised that executing non-bailable warrants against Shahabuddin and his accomplices was within his legal authority and that he acted with the full responsibility of his position.
Meena’s leadership extended beyond combatting criminals. In 2011, he played a key role in establishing the Special Security Guard (SSG) for Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, modelled after the central Special Protection Group (SPG), serving as IG/ADG Security for six years.
Colleagues remember him as an officer who led from the front, thriving in challenging assignments. His career has left a lasting legacy in Bihar policing, setting benchmarks for courage, integrity, and leadership.
With Meena’s retirement, other senior IPS officers are also concluding distinguished careers, including Alok Raj (1989 batch) on December 31, RS Bhatti (1990 batch), and A K Ambedkar (1992 batch).
