Cachar Soldier Awarded President’s Gallantry Medal

Guwahati: Havildar Mohammad Khambatan Khan earned the President’s Gallantry Medal. He serves with the 6 Assam Rifles in Manipur. The military honored him for his bravery and his role in security operations across the Northeast. He works to keep the peace and crush insurgent groups. The soldier calls Kanthagram in Lalang Part I his home. This sits within the Lakhipur Assembly constituency in the Cachar district of Assam.

President Droupadi Murmu originally planned to hand him the medal at the Defence Investiture Ceremony. This event took place at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on June 15, 2026. Khan missed the date. He was training abroad at the time. The medal traveled from the capital to his unit headquarters later.

Assam Rifles officers presented the award to Khan on October 23. Local folks in the Barak Valley celebrated the news. They hope his success sparks interest among local youth to join the armed forces. Residents believe this recognition honors those on the front lines. The force continues to hunt down insurgents in the region. One resident noted: "His recognition has brought attention to Lakhipur and the wider Barak Valley."