Itanagar, Oct 20: Arunachal Pradesh is constructing a ₹5 crore war memorial in Keyi Panyor district to honour Neelam Tebi, an Assam Rifles jawan who died fighting Chinese forces during the 1962 India-China War.
The tribute coincides with the 64th anniversary of Tebi’s death on Tuesday. Personnel of the Indian Army’s 19th Battalion of the Jat Regiment, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and local dignitaries gathered at the under-construction memorial to pay homage to the fallen soldier.
The state government has allocated ₹5 crore for the first phase of the project.
Tebi, a native of Nyelam village in Lower Subansiri district, was serving with the 5 Assam Rifles when he was killed in action in the Kameng sector during the Chinese offensive in 1962. According to military officials, he sustained injuries on October 19 and succumbed to them the following day.
Speaking to reporters, Thanglian Mang, Commandant of the 60th ITBP Battalion, recalled Tebi’s courage during the Chinese advance. He said the memorial would help preserve the legacy of soldiers who sacrificed their lives in defence of the country.
Major Bhanu Mahesh of the Army’s 19th Battalion, Jat Regiment, also paid tribute to Tebi, highlighting his determination to fight despite overwhelming odds. He said the memorial would honour the sacrifices of the 1962 war martyrs, particularly Tebi, whose contribution had remained relatively unknown in his home state for years.
Spread across approximately 45,000 square metres, the proposed memorial will feature a cenotaph, a wall of fame bearing the names of martyrs, a museum-cum-armoury hall, a statue of Tebi, an entrance gate, an approach road, viewpoints, landscaped gardens, a cafeteria and parking facilities. Subsequent phases are planned to include an armoured tank and a helicopter.
The land for the project was donated by residents of Nyelam village through the local Neelam society, reflecting the community’s role in preserving the soldier’s memory.
Military officials hope the memorial will emerge as a destination for war tourism, complementing established war memorials at Tawang and Walong in Arunachal Pradesh.
The project forms part of commemorative events marking the 64th anniversary of the 1962 India-China War. It aims to honour Tebi and other soldiers who laid down their lives defending the country’s territorial integrity.
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