Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh is sinking 5 crore rupees into a new war memorial. The site sits in Keyi Panyor district. It honors Neelam Tebi, an Assam Rifles jawan who fell fighting Chinese troops in 1962. The project covers 45,000 square metres.
Construction hit the spotlight on October 20. This marks 64 years since Tebi died. Soldiers from the Indian Army 19th Battalion Jat Regiment and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police joined local leaders at the site to pay their respects. The state government funded this first phase.
Tebi hailed from Nyelam village in Lower Subansiri district. He served with 5 Assam Rifles in the Kameng sector during the Chinese offensive. He took wounds on October 19 and passed away the next day. Commandant Thanglian Mang of the 60th ITBP Battalion highlighted the soldier's bravery. He stated, "the memorial would help preserve the legacy of soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in defence of the country."
The site plans include a cenotaph and a wall of fame for martyrs. It will house a museum, an armoury hall, and a statue of Tebi. Visitors will find an approach road, gardens, a cafeteria, and parking. Future phases aim to install an armoured tank and a helicopter. Residents of Nyelam village donated the land via the local Neelam society.
Major Bhanu Mahesh of the 19th Battalion Jat Regiment lauded Tebi's fight against long odds. He noted that the hero's story had stayed quiet in his home state for too long. Officials expect this memorial to join Tawang and Walong as a key destination for military history buffs.
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