Daijiworld Media Network - Ziro

Ziro, Apr 22: Emotional scenes marked the first death anniversary of Indian Air Force Corporal Tage Hailyang in Arunachal Pradesh’s Ziro on Wednesday, as family members, residents and local leaders paid tribute to the soldier who was among the 26 victims of the Pahalgam terror attack last year.

A memorial statue of Hailyang was unveiled at Rakhe Lembo in his native Tajang village in Lower Subansiri district in honour of the slain airman, remembered for his courage during the deadly attack.

Hailyang was gunned down by terrorists in Baisaran Valley in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, just days before he was to be transferred out of Kashmir. He was among 26 people killed when terrorists opened indiscriminate fire on civilians and tourists in one of the deadliest attacks in the region.

The attack unfolded in the scenic meadow near Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district, when armed terrorists reportedly opened fire between 1 pm and 2.45 pm, turning the tourist destination into a bloodbath.

Hailyang, who had joined the Indian Air Force in 2017, was vacationing with his newlywed wife after being transferred from Srinagar to the Dibrugarh Air Force Station.

According to accounts that emerged after the attack, the airman displayed exceptional bravery, choosing to stay back and guide civilians to safety amid gunfire despite opportunities to escape, before he was fatally shot.

Educated in Ziro, Haryana’s Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram and later at Don Bosco, Itanagar, Hailyang had returned to Srinagar to collect his belongings when tragedy struck.

Wednesday’s memorial event saw heartfelt tributes pour in for the young soldier, with many hailing him as a hero who laid down his life while protecting others.