#Review: Badge and the Bullet by Rajesh Pandey & Rakesh Goswami

Badge and the Bullet
Authors: Rajesh Pandey and Rakesh Goswami
Publisher: Rupa Publication
Rating: 4/5

Badge and the Bullet takes readers into the gritty world of crime-fighting in one of India’s most dynamic law enforcement agencies—the UP Special Task Force (STF). Co-written by former supercop Amitabh Thakur and seasoned journalist Nitin A. Gokhale, this memoir offers an unfiltered look into the life of a police officer operating at the intersection of courage and chaos.

The narrative kicks off with Thakur’s first nerve-wracking encounters, setting the stage for a career defined by high-stakes operations and unrelenting danger. The book’s real strength lies in its vivid recounting of the STF’s formative years, established under the leadership of then-Chief Minister Kalyan Singh to counter organized crime, notably the notorious Shriprakash Shukla. The authors craft a riveting backdrop of the 1990s, an era when technological innovation in crime-solving was just taking root, and criminals relied on emerging tools like cell phones and hawala networks for their operations.

Thakur’s recounting of cases like the La Martiniere Murder, the Kota Kidnapping, and the Azamgarh terror module plunges readers into a world of meticulous investigations, adrenaline-pumping raids, and the moral dilemmas faced by those sworn to protect. Each chapter peels back the layers of complex criminal networks and the relentless pursuit of justice, making it hard to put the book down.

What sets Badge and the Bullet apart is its candid exploration of the emotional toll of law enforcement. It doesn’t just celebrate the victories but also delves into the psychological and physical strains faced by officers. Co-author Gokhale’s journalistic precision ensures the narrative remains balanced, providing a broader socio-political context to the crimes and the STF’s responses.

For those interested in true crime, policing, or modern Indian history, this book is a goldmine. It’s a gripping, fast-paced read that highlights the fine line between heroism and vulnerability, offering a rare insider’s perspective on what it takes to battle crime at its roots.

A must-read for fans of crime thrillers and real-life accounts of law enforcement. Badge and the Bullet is as much a tale of personal grit as it is a chronicle of systemic transformation in India’s fight against crime.

Find this book here.