Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera, DG Assam Rifles, visited the Assam Rifles Battalion at Mokokchung, Nagaland on 20 May 2025 to review the security in the region. Thereafter, the General Officer proceeded to Sungratsu village to meet and interact with 105 year old AR veteran Havildar Mering Ao, SC (Retd), one of the force’s most distinguished and respected veterans.
Havildar Mering Ao, born on 15 November 1920 is a distinguished veteran of the 3rd Battalion Assam Rifles and the oldest gallantry award recipient in the force’s history, he is 105 years old. A participant in World War II, he took part in historic battles in Kohima and Burma. In 1960, during a counter-insurgency operation in Nagaland, he displayed exceptional bravery by eliminating one insurgent and injuring two others. For this act of valor, he was awarded the Ashok Chakra Class III (later renamed the Shaurya Chakra) by then President Dr. Rajendra Prasad on 21 April 1960.
The Genral Officer presented the veteran with a token of appreciation, acknowledging his legendary service and lifelong commitment to the nation. The interaction was a deeply moving moment that highlighted the Assam Rifles’ ethos of honouring its heroes and preserving their legacy.
