GUWAHATI | Assam Rifles rifleman V Teja from Odisha’s Rayagada district died after sustaining a gunshot wound while on operational duty in Nagaland, two days before his 31st birthday. Teja, who joined the armed forces in 2022, was serving with the 15th Assam Rifles. His mortal remains were brought to Rayagada on Tuesday, where hundreds of people gathered to pay their last respects.

A motorcycle rally was organised in his honour, with the procession beginning around 10 km from Rayagada. Hundreds of people joined the rally, which included fireworks, DJ music and chants in memory of the soldier. Teja was scheduled to celebrate his birthday on October 7. He was also expected to return home for Diwali ahead of his wedding, which was planned for December.

Naib Subedar Ravindra Kumar Naik of the 15th Assam Rifles accompanied Teja’s mortal remains to Rayagada. He said his responsibility was to hand over the body to the soldier’s family, while details of the incident would become clearer after the post-mortem examination.

Teja’s maternal uncle said the family had been informed that he died in the line of duty after suffering a gunshot injury. His death left his parents and other relatives devastated. Neighbours and residents gathered outside the family home to pay their respects as the mortal remains arrived in the district.

In an act of organ donation, Teja had reportedly pledged around two years ago to donate his organs after death. Following his death, a local hospital collected and preserved his organs in accordance with his wishes. His mortal remains were flown by helicopter to Visakhapatnam and later transported by ambulance to Rayagada.

The district administration is preparing to pay tribute to the soldier on Thursday morning. His funeral rites are scheduled to begin at 7 am. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed grief over Teja’s death and paid tribute to his service and sacrifice.

Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik also condoled his death, describing the soldier’s courage and sacrifice as a matter of pride for Odisha and the country.

Teja’s death comes days after an ambush near the India-Myanmar border in Arunachal Pradesh on September 29, in which Havildar Jankhokai Kuki was killed and four others were injured.