Dibrugarh: The serene town of Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh witnessed an emotional observance marking the first death anniversary of Indian Air Force (IAF) Corporal Tage Hailyang, one of the 26 victims of the Pahalgam terror attack a year ago.
On Wednesday, a memorial statue of the fallen airman was inaugurated at Rakhe Lembo in his native Tajang village in Lower Subansiri district, with family members, local leaders and residents gathering to pay tribute.
The Pahalgam attack took place on April 22, 2025, in the Baisaran Valley meadow near the popular tourist destination in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Armed terrorists, estimated to be between two and seven in number, opened indiscriminate fire on civilians and tourists between 1 pm and 2.45 pm, turning the otherwise peaceful, pine-forested area—accessible only by foot or horseback—into a scene of devastation.
Corporal Tage Hailyang, who joined the IAF in 2017 after completing his education in Ziro, Haryana’s Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, and graduating from Don Bosco, Itanagar, was on leave with his newlywed wife following a transfer from Srinagar to the Dibrugarh Air Force Station.
He had returned to Srinagar to collect his belongings when the attack occurred.
Eyewitness accounts and tributes highlight his courage during the incident. Despite having the opportunity to escape, he reportedly chose to stay back, helping guide civilians to safety amid the gunfire before succumbing to his injuries.
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