Havildar Mohd Iqbal of the Assam Rifles, who was killed while on duty in Nagaland, was laid to rest with full military honours at his native village of Kallar Mohra in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Wednesday. The soldier’s mortal remains reached his village on July 15, where Army personnel, family members, relatives and hundreds of local residents gathered to pay their final respects. A solemn funeral ceremony was held with full military honours, as fellow soldiers and mourners bid farewell to the fallen serviceman. Paying tribute to his father, Iqbal’s son, Fasal Iqbal, said the family was proud of the sacrifice he made in the service of the nation. “We feel proud that he made the ultimate sacrifice for the country. I feel good knowing he did something truly right for the country and made that sacrifice. It is a matter of pride for all of us,” he told reporters after the funeral.
Fasal also said he was determined to continue his father’s legacy by joining the armed forces. “My resolve is to become a good officer, serve the country, and take revenge on the enemies,” he said. Havildar Mohd Iqbal was serving with the Assam Rifles in Nagaland when he lost his life while performing his duties. Details of the incident were not immediately available. Meanwhile, the Assam Rifles recently honoured another fallen soldier during a commemorative ceremony in Tripura. The force paid tribute to Rifleman (General Duty) Govind Singh of 28 Assam Rifles during a wreath-laying ceremony at the Radhanagar Battalion to mark his sacrifice.
Rifleman Singh was killed in action on July 10, 1996, during a counter-insurgency operation in Jammu and Kashmir. Senior officers laid wreaths in his memory, while troops observed a two-minute silence to honour his courage and service. The Assam Rifles said the ceremony reflected its continued commitment to remembering and honouring personnel who laid down their lives in the line of duty and safeguarding the nation’s security.
