“He lived in the difficult terrain of North East where life was under constant threats from militants. But, he loved his job too much to complain and was made of a sterner stuff to ever think of bowing to pressures,” says Leela Rani, wife of Ramisetti Vijaya Krishna, the 44-year-old IPS officer who died earlier this month in Chennai.
“Despite enormous work pressure, he never neglected his family and made the best of the limited vacation by spending quality time with family members. It is sad that a young life is cut short abruptly, but we are all immensely proud of his services to the nation,” a grief-stricken Leela Rani told The Hindu over phone. The couple has two sons.
A 1999-batch officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, Mr. Vijaya Krishna never shirked responsibility and was known for his exemplary bravery even if it meant a high risk to his life.
He had headed one such perilous operation to rescue National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) official Anil Kumar Agarwal, who was abducted by militants and held hostage in a desolate location on the State’s border with Arunachal Pradesh. In recognition of his valour, he was given the Chief Minister’s Police Medal.
Mr. Vijaya Krishna was a DIG with jurisdiction of North Bank Assam, Dhemaji, North Lakhimpur, Tezpur, Mangadoi and Udalguri areas, many of which were strife-torn.
On his close association with Mr. Vijaya Krishna during the training period at the National Police Academy, Eluru Range DIG Vikram Singh Mann described Vijaya Krishna as an outstanding and daring officer who was game to challenges. “His demise is an irreparable loss to the Police Department, as one finds only few such dedicated officers,” he said.
The officer had fought several battles to protect the nation’s territorial integrity by fending off attacks by the dreaded Bodo militants and other extremist outfits.
After securing a PhD from Hyderabad Central University in 2004, he pursued Masters in Philosophy by availing a study leave.
Just when the young officer was on the cusp of conquering greater heights, fate snatched him away from his traumatized family and a shocked Assam Police for which he worked as DIG (Northern Range). He was based at Tezpur, but he frequently operated from Guwahati.
