IAF engineer shot dead at high-security air force station in Prayagraj

According to police, Mishra was asleep when he was shot through a window, with the bullet striking him in the chest.

An Indian Air Force (IAF) civil engineer was shot dead at his official residence inside the high-security Air Force Station in Bamrauli, Prayagraj, early Saturday morning. The victim, identified as 51-year-old Satendra Nath Mishra, hailed from Bihar and was posted as a Command Works Engineer in the Central Air Command’s North Zone.

According to police, Mishra was asleep when he was shot through a window, with the bullet striking him in the chest. His body was discovered lying on the floor of his house. Preliminary investigations suggest the assailant may have fired from outside the residence.

Authorities have sealed CCTV footage and secured surveillance system hard disks for analysis. Police suspect that the perpetrator scaled the boundary wall to gain entry into the campus.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abhishek Bharti confirmed that a suspect was captured on CCTV scaling the boundary wall around 3 AM. "All footage from within and outside the Air Force colony is being analysed. We are examining possible motives, including personal enmity and professional angles," he said.

At the time of the attack, Mishra’s wife, Vatsala Mishra, and their 16-year-old son were sleeping in an adjoining room. Their daughter is currently studying in Lucknow.

Sources close to the family revealed that an attempted intrusion had occurred at Mishra’s residence 15 days ago, following which he alerted Air Force authorities and installed a CCTV system. However, days before the murder, the CCTV wiring was deliberately cut, raising concerns about a premeditated attack.

Station House Officer (SHO) Manoj Kumar Singh stated that while a suspect was seen approaching the house, police are working to establish their identity and motive.

As of now, no official statement has been issued by the Defence authorities or the police. .