Rifleman V Teja of the 15 Assam Rifles made the supreme sacrifice on 5 October 2026 while on operational duty in Nagaland. He was serving with Charlie Company of the battalion.
Rifleman Teja sustained a gunshot wound while on operational duty and was rushed to a hospital in Nagaland. He was subsequently declared dead.
A native of Rayagada district in Odisha, Teja had joined the armed forces in 2022 and was serving with the 15 Assam Rifles.
In a final act of service to others, Teja's wish to donate his organs was honoured after his death. He had reportedly pledged to donate his organs around two years earlier, and a local hospital collected and preserved them in accordance with his wishes.
His mortal remains were flown to Visakhapatnam and subsequently transported to Rayagada, where family members, fellow personnel and local residents gathered to pay their respects.
Rifleman V Teja's service and supreme sacrifice will be remembered with honour. His final act of organ donation also stands as a lasting expression of his commitment to helping others.
