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Operation Bazooka: The True Story behind the Hunt for the Most Dreaded UP Gangster ǀ True crime account of Shriprakash Shukla’s encounter
Who could pump 112 bullets to kill a man in a posh Lucknow locality?Why did a criminal hang around prep schools in Lucknow?How did a phone call to the daughter of a government engineer blow the lid off the plan to assassinate the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh?And who can tell the story of Operation Bazooka better than the man who was a part of it! Police officer Rajesh Pandey was among the founding members of the UP STF (Special Task Force), created to nab Shriprakash Shukla – one of the most dreaded gangsters in Uttar Pradesh, The book gives a detailed account of the workings of the STF and how they nabbed the gangster. Read about the country’s first electronic surveillance unit developed by Pandey during the operation and how the police got the only photograph of the gangster available till date.Operation Bazooka is a no-holds-barred, bone-chilling true account of Shriprakash Shukla’s reign of terror and how the STF went after him.
- GenresNonfiction
189 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 11, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 31, 2024
It took me less than 48 hours to finish reading 192 pages of “Operation Bazooka.” Books written about crime and criminals are definitely captivating. This particular read becomes even more interesting if you know a bit about Uttar Pradesh, the place where this narrative begins, as well as some background on railway DRM office tenders and railway contractors. Even if you don’t, it’s still a racy, thrilling, edge-of-your-seat experience.
Shriprakash Shukla terrorized parts of UP, especially the Lucknow-Gorakhpur belt, and further penetrated into Bihar in the 1990s. His reign of terror lasted for close to 6-7 years, giving sleepless nights to both the police and administration of UP. One of the authors, Rajesh Pandey, served as an officer in the Special Task Force formed by the UP government to neutralize the criminal. The Special Task Force was able to achieve its objective in 14 months—truly a commendable job, considering the struggles faced by the Task Force of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in neutralizing Veerappan, a journey that lasted over a decade.
It started off as a game of one-upmanship between two railway contractors vying for a larger share of railway tenders in Gorakhpur. One of the contractors employed the services of Shukla and his gang to eliminate the other, and in the process, created a power-hungry and bloodthirsty monster who wreaked havoc in a very short span of time. His methods were brutal, aimed at evoking fear and awe; one of his early victims was riddled with 112 bullets. This extreme level of violence was to become a common theme, as the bodies of many his victims were damaged beyond recognition.
The author paints Shukla as a ruthless, hardened criminal. He embraced his notoriety to the extent of calling up journalists to own his crimes and threatening them in case they gave credit to rival gangs for the said crimes. He had an insatiable greed for the most advanced firearms; the AK-47 was his preferred companion. The book also gives insight into a very sharp mind, which was used to outmanoeuvre rivals and the law. His ingenious use of local youth for information on his targets (termed “Kundli”) and using the “Kundli” information to scare the target and blackmail him into submitting to his financial demands was legendary. His phone calls to his victims involved providing a minute-by-minute narration of the victims’ entire day, down to the details of the colour of their clothes and even the time they spent at various places. His reputation, coupled with the “Kundli” information, ensured he received hefty amounts of protection money without having to move a finger. Many of the victims became so scared with his narration of the “Kundli” that they feared he could kidnap or kill them easily. The fact that he preferred to operate in small groups to ensure agility and secrecy further illustrates his presence of mind.
The men in khaki demonstrate a lot of resilience in the face of multiple setbacks. On quite a few occasions, they are on the verge of nabbing their target, but he manages to elude them just in the nick of time. Fourteen months is not a long time, considering the complexity of the situation and the ability of the fugitive to move seamlessly between Lucknow and Gorakhpur in UP, Mokama and Patna in Bihar, sometimes Delhi, and sometimes Nepal. However, there was extreme pressure on the STF to nab or neutralize the criminal, both from political bosses and their functional bosses within the police force. The media also played a part in ramping up the pressure for immediate results. The STF patiently absorbed these multi-directional pressures and focused on the job at hand. They were dealing with an individual who had strong financial resources, the best firearms, and a strong network of informers within and outside the police department; his cunning and ruthless mind gave him a greater edge. The STF did well to align the police departments of UP, Bihar, Nepal, and Delhi during their operations, and all these departments cooperated well with the STF. Not for a moment does one feel that there is any lack of cohesion between the different police departments.
However, there are a few glaring gaps within the police force. The instance of a young police officer running away when charged by the criminals, without showing a semblance of fight, does show a lack of courage. The lack of understanding of the usage of technology in the early part of the story also indicates the police force not changing with the times. The hilarious instance of a policeman suggesting “lodging an FIR for theft of data, since internet bills were high” further underlines the reality.
In India, “khaki” goes hand in hand with “khadi.” The cops always need direction and support from their political bosses. Credit also goes to the then UP CM, Mr. Kalyan Singh, who formed the STF and gave them a free hand in terms of operations, enabling them to achieve their objective. At times, we do like to thrash our politicians and cops, but this is a situation where we must appreciate their intent and efforts. Mr. Kalyan Singh wanted to eliminate the menace at any cost, and hence the power of his will gave strength and direction to the STF to do their bit. There was great wisdom from Mr. Kalyan Singh in forming the STF at the right time, before the criminal became too big and totally out of control. Of course, not all politicians are saints; the biggest patron of Shukla was a reputed politician of Bihar who used Shukla to eliminate his rivals and build his own political destiny.
This is a read that makes you cringe at the violence of the criminal, admire the cops, and soak up the Hindi heartland of India, but not for a moment will you move an inch outside the book. It is fast, gripping, and at the same time detailed and a bit complex. A fast reader who wants a detox weekend can start on a Saturday afternoon and finish by Sunday night.
Go for it….
https://youtu.be/kMjWiNdXqVM?feature=...
A YouTube link for a video book review is has been created and shared
You can share your views in comments section in Goodreads or on YouTube . You can also write to me on my Email aparup.gupta@rediffmail.com , my Instagram handle @aparup.gupta.
The person sharing the best comments will get a free copy of this book .
Shriprakash Shukla terrorized parts of UP, especially the Lucknow-Gorakhpur belt, and further penetrated into Bihar in the 1990s. His reign of terror lasted for close to 6-7 years, giving sleepless nights to both the police and administration of UP. One of the authors, Rajesh Pandey, served as an officer in the Special Task Force formed by the UP government to neutralize the criminal. The Special Task Force was able to achieve its objective in 14 months—truly a commendable job, considering the struggles faced by the Task Force of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in neutralizing Veerappan, a journey that lasted over a decade.
It started off as a game of one-upmanship between two railway contractors vying for a larger share of railway tenders in Gorakhpur. One of the contractors employed the services of Shukla and his gang to eliminate the other, and in the process, created a power-hungry and bloodthirsty monster who wreaked havoc in a very short span of time. His methods were brutal, aimed at evoking fear and awe; one of his early victims was riddled with 112 bullets. This extreme level of violence was to become a common theme, as the bodies of many his victims were damaged beyond recognition.
The author paints Shukla as a ruthless, hardened criminal. He embraced his notoriety to the extent of calling up journalists to own his crimes and threatening them in case they gave credit to rival gangs for the said crimes. He had an insatiable greed for the most advanced firearms; the AK-47 was his preferred companion. The book also gives insight into a very sharp mind, which was used to outmanoeuvre rivals and the law. His ingenious use of local youth for information on his targets (termed “Kundli”) and using the “Kundli” information to scare the target and blackmail him into submitting to his financial demands was legendary. His phone calls to his victims involved providing a minute-by-minute narration of the victims’ entire day, down to the details of the colour of their clothes and even the time they spent at various places. His reputation, coupled with the “Kundli” information, ensured he received hefty amounts of protection money without having to move a finger. Many of the victims became so scared with his narration of the “Kundli” that they feared he could kidnap or kill them easily. The fact that he preferred to operate in small groups to ensure agility and secrecy further illustrates his presence of mind.
The men in khaki demonstrate a lot of resilience in the face of multiple setbacks. On quite a few occasions, they are on the verge of nabbing their target, but he manages to elude them just in the nick of time. Fourteen months is not a long time, considering the complexity of the situation and the ability of the fugitive to move seamlessly between Lucknow and Gorakhpur in UP, Mokama and Patna in Bihar, sometimes Delhi, and sometimes Nepal. However, there was extreme pressure on the STF to nab or neutralize the criminal, both from political bosses and their functional bosses within the police force. The media also played a part in ramping up the pressure for immediate results. The STF patiently absorbed these multi-directional pressures and focused on the job at hand. They were dealing with an individual who had strong financial resources, the best firearms, and a strong network of informers within and outside the police department; his cunning and ruthless mind gave him a greater edge. The STF did well to align the police departments of UP, Bihar, Nepal, and Delhi during their operations, and all these departments cooperated well with the STF. Not for a moment does one feel that there is any lack of cohesion between the different police departments.
However, there are a few glaring gaps within the police force. The instance of a young police officer running away when charged by the criminals, without showing a semblance of fight, does show a lack of courage. The lack of understanding of the usage of technology in the early part of the story also indicates the police force not changing with the times. The hilarious instance of a policeman suggesting “lodging an FIR for theft of data, since internet bills were high” further underlines the reality.
In India, “khaki” goes hand in hand with “khadi.” The cops always need direction and support from their political bosses. Credit also goes to the then UP CM, Mr. Kalyan Singh, who formed the STF and gave them a free hand in terms of operations, enabling them to achieve their objective. At times, we do like to thrash our politicians and cops, but this is a situation where we must appreciate their intent and efforts. Mr. Kalyan Singh wanted to eliminate the menace at any cost, and hence the power of his will gave strength and direction to the STF to do their bit. There was great wisdom from Mr. Kalyan Singh in forming the STF at the right time, before the criminal became too big and totally out of control. Of course, not all politicians are saints; the biggest patron of Shukla was a reputed politician of Bihar who used Shukla to eliminate his rivals and build his own political destiny.
This is a read that makes you cringe at the violence of the criminal, admire the cops, and soak up the Hindi heartland of India, but not for a moment will you move an inch outside the book. It is fast, gripping, and at the same time detailed and a bit complex. A fast reader who wants a detox weekend can start on a Saturday afternoon and finish by Sunday night.
Go for it….
https://youtu.be/kMjWiNdXqVM?feature=...
A YouTube link for a video book review is has been created and shared
You can share your views in comments section in Goodreads or on YouTube . You can also write to me on my Email aparup.gupta@rediffmail.com , my Instagram handle @aparup.gupta.
The person sharing the best comments will get a free copy of this book .
October 24, 2023
This one was epic .. !
Waiting for more such real life thrillers from the author !!
Waiting for more such real life thrillers from the author !!
October 19, 2023
"Operation Bazooka" is a riveting and chilling true story about the hunt and apprehension of one of Uttar Pradesh's most feared gangsters, Shriprakash Shukla. It's written by Rajesh Pandey, a former police officer and co-founder of the UP STF, and it provides an honest and compelling account of the relentless pursuit to capture this notorious criminal in a high-stakes operation..
The story opens with a puzzling and sinister act: a man is brutally assassinated with an astonishing 112 bullets in a posh Lucknow locality. This heinous crime serves as the catalyst for a high-stakes manhunt, drawing the reader into a world of crime, corruption, and audacious criminality.
The narrative takes an intriguing twist as we delve into the dark underbelly of Lucknow, where the criminal Shriprakash Shukla was known to frequent prep schools. The book meticulously uncovers how Shukla's criminal empire operated, how he managed to elude the law for so long, and the pervasive fear he instilled in the minds of the public.
Rajesh Pandey offers an insider's view of the UP STF's mission to apprehend Shriprakash Shukla and dismantle his criminal empire. Pandey's firsthand account provides an authentic and gripping narrative, detailing the STF's strategic approaches, covert operations, and unwavering resolve.
A notable aspect of it is Pandey's description of creating the nation's first electronic surveillance unit for the operation. This innovative use of technology highlights law enforcement's adaptability in the pursuit of justice and underscores the careful planning and execution behind Shukla's capture.
The book further explores the intriguing role of a phone call to the daughter of a government engineer in unraveling the plan to assassinate the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. This unexpected twist in the narrative adds depth to the story and showcases the importance of dogged investigative work in solving complex cases.
In conclusion,For readers who are drawn to gripping true crime stories and those interested in understanding the complexities of criminal investigations, it is an insightful and captivating read.
🌟🌟🌟🌟
The story opens with a puzzling and sinister act: a man is brutally assassinated with an astonishing 112 bullets in a posh Lucknow locality. This heinous crime serves as the catalyst for a high-stakes manhunt, drawing the reader into a world of crime, corruption, and audacious criminality.
The narrative takes an intriguing twist as we delve into the dark underbelly of Lucknow, where the criminal Shriprakash Shukla was known to frequent prep schools. The book meticulously uncovers how Shukla's criminal empire operated, how he managed to elude the law for so long, and the pervasive fear he instilled in the minds of the public.
Rajesh Pandey offers an insider's view of the UP STF's mission to apprehend Shriprakash Shukla and dismantle his criminal empire. Pandey's firsthand account provides an authentic and gripping narrative, detailing the STF's strategic approaches, covert operations, and unwavering resolve.
A notable aspect of it is Pandey's description of creating the nation's first electronic surveillance unit for the operation. This innovative use of technology highlights law enforcement's adaptability in the pursuit of justice and underscores the careful planning and execution behind Shukla's capture.
The book further explores the intriguing role of a phone call to the daughter of a government engineer in unraveling the plan to assassinate the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. This unexpected twist in the narrative adds depth to the story and showcases the importance of dogged investigative work in solving complex cases.
In conclusion,For readers who are drawn to gripping true crime stories and those interested in understanding the complexities of criminal investigations, it is an insightful and captivating read.
🌟🌟🌟🌟
January 21, 2024
Name : Operation Bazooka
Author : IPS Rajesh Pandey, Rakesh Goswami
Genre : True Crime Action
[21/01/24 6.36PM ]
Guys, if any of you have watched the tv series Mirzapur, then definitely pick this book up. The cherry on top is that THIS one is a real story.
Last year, after trying out a true crime short stories collection, I realised that I enjoy true crime in tv more than books as I don't like reading gory stuff. So I picked this book up as it involves gangster and raids and lots of action, without any gore.
The most exciting part of this book is that one of the authors, IPS Rajesh Pandey was himself the main part of the story. He was present in a special task force that took down a violent and notorious gangster of Uttar Pradesh, Sriprakash Shukla and his whole gang. And his co-author, Rakesh Goswami, a renouned crime journalist, narrated the whole plot in such a way that we can read them from the POV of both the gangster and the police in a story like, so it almost felt like I am watching the movie. It was very exhilarating to read about the whole mission and get to know about raids, considering everything was real. I did skim over some descriptive parts because reading about crimes too much st a strech bores me a bit - but that's just me. If you are a true crime action fan, go for it!
Lastly, the philosopher in me felt sad that so many people give themselves up to corruption and vices and they simply ruin the chance of a good life with friends and family. All for what? Money and power. It's disheartening. Humans can be SUCH fools, isn't it?
Author : IPS Rajesh Pandey, Rakesh Goswami
Genre : True Crime Action
[21/01/24 6.36PM ]
Guys, if any of you have watched the tv series Mirzapur, then definitely pick this book up. The cherry on top is that THIS one is a real story.
Last year, after trying out a true crime short stories collection, I realised that I enjoy true crime in tv more than books as I don't like reading gory stuff. So I picked this book up as it involves gangster and raids and lots of action, without any gore.
The most exciting part of this book is that one of the authors, IPS Rajesh Pandey was himself the main part of the story. He was present in a special task force that took down a violent and notorious gangster of Uttar Pradesh, Sriprakash Shukla and his whole gang. And his co-author, Rakesh Goswami, a renouned crime journalist, narrated the whole plot in such a way that we can read them from the POV of both the gangster and the police in a story like, so it almost felt like I am watching the movie. It was very exhilarating to read about the whole mission and get to know about raids, considering everything was real. I did skim over some descriptive parts because reading about crimes too much st a strech bores me a bit - but that's just me. If you are a true crime action fan, go for it!
Lastly, the philosopher in me felt sad that so many people give themselves up to corruption and vices and they simply ruin the chance of a good life with friends and family. All for what? Money and power. It's disheartening. Humans can be SUCH fools, isn't it?
April 14, 2024
"Operation Bazooka" immerses readers into the gripping and harrowing actual tale surrounding the pursuit and capture of one of Uttar Pradesh's most notorious criminals, Shriprakash Shukla. Crafted by Rajesh Pandey, a former police officer and member of the UP STF then, the narrative offers a candid and enthralling depiction of the relentless efforts to apprehend this feared gangster in a high-stakes operation.
The narrative begins with a perplexing and ominous event: a man is ruthlessly assassinated, showered with an astonishing barrage of bullets in an upscale Lucknow neighbourhood. This atrocious crime sets off a high-stakes hunting, immersing the reader into a realm of crime, corruption, and bold criminal endeavours. As the narrative progresses, it ventures into the murky depths of Lucknow's criminal underworld, where Shriprakash Shukla's presence loomed large, even amid the corridors of prestigious prep schools. With meticulous detail, the book unravels the inner workings of Shukla's criminal empire, delving into how he navigated the legal system, evading capture for an extended period, and the profound fear he instilled within the community.
READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE:
https://www.bibliophiletalks.in/book-...
The narrative begins with a perplexing and ominous event: a man is ruthlessly assassinated, showered with an astonishing barrage of bullets in an upscale Lucknow neighbourhood. This atrocious crime sets off a high-stakes hunting, immersing the reader into a realm of crime, corruption, and bold criminal endeavours. As the narrative progresses, it ventures into the murky depths of Lucknow's criminal underworld, where Shriprakash Shukla's presence loomed large, even amid the corridors of prestigious prep schools. With meticulous detail, the book unravels the inner workings of Shukla's criminal empire, delving into how he navigated the legal system, evading capture for an extended period, and the profound fear he instilled within the community.
READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE:
https://www.bibliophiletalks.in/book-...
July 22, 2024
Operation Bazooka details the true story behind the hunt for Shriprakash Shukla, a notorious gangster in Uttar Pradesh during the 1990s.
Despite expectations of a thrilling chase, the narrative unfolds as a methodical and calculated police operation led by the UP Special Task Force. The story captures the challenges faced by law enforcement in dismantling organized crime, emphasizing intelligence work, strategic planning, and the relentless dedication of the officers involved.
While lacking in dramatic flair, the book offers a realistic and compelling account of the complexities involved in bringing a powerful criminal to justice.
Despite expectations of a thrilling chase, the narrative unfolds as a methodical and calculated police operation led by the UP Special Task Force. The story captures the challenges faced by law enforcement in dismantling organized crime, emphasizing intelligence work, strategic planning, and the relentless dedication of the officers involved.
While lacking in dramatic flair, the book offers a realistic and compelling account of the complexities involved in bringing a powerful criminal to justice.
January 2, 2024
"Operation Bazooka," though boasting an intriguing subject matter, falls short of expectations due to its average writing and lack of attention to crucial details. The author, seemingly in a hurry to pen down the narrative, has overlooked the genuine interests of dedicated book readers. What's particularly striking is the author's inclination towards the perspective of the gangster rather than delving into the complexities of police work. The narrative seems to be more enamored with the criminal mind, often speculating on the thoughts and motivations of the underworld figures. The rushed nature of the storytelling is evident in the hasty conclusion of the gangsters' stories.
While the book presents a captivating subject, it falls victim to hurried writing, a lack of consideration for technical details, and an imbalanced focus on the criminal perspective.
While the book presents a captivating subject, it falls victim to hurried writing, a lack of consideration for technical details, and an imbalanced focus on the criminal perspective.
October 11, 2023
Book is great. I will recommend it to all those having a taste in the underworld genre, to once go through this masterpiece. Seemlessly stunning experience reading it and exceptional writing feels as if something is happening just in front of our eyes.
Must read.
Must read.
March 24, 2025
The book had a few interesting facts about the operation and certain quirks about Shriprakash, but it ended abruptly. I believe that, as a real-life incident, there were some facts that couldn’t be published.
April 30, 2024
very captivating, it was nice to read the experiences of a senior police officer who gave everything to catch one of the most dreaded criminals of UP .
June 24, 2024
Fast paced and intense thriller.
September 17, 2024
22 Sept will mark 26 years of Sriprakash Mukt UP ✨ Kudos to STF ... and what a book with all minute details... Thriller and Nail Biting full of Action ✅
September 22, 2025
Reads simplistic but has pace enough to be a good use of an hour's time. Impossible to believe now that such level of gore and violence prevailed alongside our regular lives in UP
February 22, 2025
a good read in once a go
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews