Agniveer Arjun Rana Wins COAS Commendation Medal for Bravery in Assam Attack

Arjun Rana, a young Agniveer from Salang village in Tikru Panchayat of Jogindernagar tehsil in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district, has been awarded the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Commendation Medal for courage shown during a militant attack on an Army camp in Assam.

Rana, son of Rajkumar Rana, joined the Indian Army in 2024 under the Agniveer scheme and is serving with the 19 Grenadiers. He received the medal at a ceremony in Gujarat, according to the information available.

The recognition comes after his action during an extremist attack on an Army camp in Tinsukia, Assam. As militants arrived in a vehicle and a firefight broke out at the camp, Rana responded quickly and fired accurately at the driver of the attackers’ vehicle from close range. His intervention helped disrupt the assault and forced the militants to retreat from the scene.

Local reports published by Divya Himachal and Amar Ujala say Rana’s presence of mind and fearlessness under fire were central to stopping the attack from developing further. The accounts have drawn attention in Salang village and across Tikru Panchayat, where residents have expressed pride in the young soldier’s recognition.

The COAS Commendation Medal is awarded for distinguished service or for acts of exceptional devotion to duty. In Rana’s case, the honour has been seen locally as an early acknowledgement of operational bravery by an Agniveer from Himachal Pradesh serving in a sensitive area in the Northeast.

In Jogindernagar and across Mandi district, the award has been welcomed as a matter of regional pride, with residents viewing it as part of the area’s long-standing contribution to the Indian Army. Rana’s family and the local community continue to celebrate both his service and the recognition he has received while on duty.