On Thursday, the Arunachal Pradesh cabinet approved a Rs 5 crore budget for a memorial to Neelam Tebi, a 1962 war hero from Nyelam village. The decision marks the state’s first major tribute to an Assam Rifles soldier in the region.
The ceremony on October 20 at Keyi Panyor district drew 19th Battalion, JAT Regiment troops, ITBP’s 60th Battalion, and local dignitaries. Major Bhanu Mahesh recalled Tebi’s bravery, while Commandant Thanglian Mang spoke of his sacrifice. Residents donated the 45,000‑sq‑m plot.
Planned features include a cenotaph, a names wall, a museum‑armory hall and a statue. Future phases aim to install an armored tank and a helicopter display, with landscaping and visitor amenities.
The memorial will sit beside existing sites at Tawang and Walong, expanding Arunachal’s war‑history narrative. Officials anticipate opening by 2028, offering a place for families and veterans to remember.