Corporal Tage Hailyang. (Photo: X/@PemaKhanduBJP)
New Delhi: An Indian Air Force airman, Corporal Tage Hailyang, 30, was among those killed in the devastating terror attack carried out in the tranquil tourist destination of Pahalgam in south Kashmir on Tuesday, the Air Force announced in a statement on Wednesday. The service expressed deep sorrow at the loss of Cpl Tage and extended condolences to all bereaved families.
The death toll in Monday’s terror attack on tourists has risen to 28, according to the latest figures. Among those killed was also a Kashmiri pony-ride operator, Syed Adil Hussain, who lost his life while reportedly attempting to snatch an automatic rifle from one of the terrorists during the rampage.
Cpl Tage hailed from Tajang village in Old Ziro in the Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh. The son of Tage Tade, the headman of the village, he was known for his humility, dedication, and commitment to serving the nation. He completed his graduation in humanities before joining the Air Force about nine years ago, where he quickly earned the respect of his peers and superiors.
He married in December 2024, and his wife accompanied him on what was intended to be a peaceful holiday in the scenic valleys of Pahalgam. The couple, still in the early days of their marriage, had planned this trip as a brief respite from the demands of military service.
Cpl Tage’s brother, Tage Mali, who serves in the Indian Army and is currently posted in Srinagar, shared the family’s heartbreak. “She (Cpl Tage Hailyang’s wife) called up at around 3pm yesterday (Tuesday) and informed us of the incident. The two of them got married last December,” he recounted, reflecting the shock and sorrow that has engulfed the family and their village.
The chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu, paid tribute to Hailyang. In a post on X, he said: “Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Corporal Tage Hailyang of the Indian Air Force, a brave son of Arunachal Pradesh who hailed from Tajang village in Lower Subansiri. While visiting Pahalgam with his wife, his life was cruelly taken in a senseless act of terror.”
“He served the nation with courage and honour, and his untimely death is a great loss not only to his family but to the entire country. Our thoughts are with his loved ones, especially his wife who survived this horrific incident. May they find strength and solace in this unimaginable time of grief. We will always remember Corporal Hailyang for his service and sacrifice,” Khandu added.
Cpl Hailyang was posted at the IAF base in Srinagar. He was on leave with his wife when the attack occurred. The couple were among several tourists enjoying the famed meadows of Pahalgam when gunmen opened fire indiscriminately, targeting civilians in one of the deadliest attacks the region has witnessed in recent years.
The attack, which took place near a popular tourist meadow, has shocked the nation, particularly because it crossed the unwritten red line of targeting tourists – many of whom were families and couples seeking solace in the picturesque landscape.
Most of the victims were tourists from various parts of India, with at least 13 others injured in the attack. The incident has triggered a wave of national and international condemnation, with leaders from across the world expressing solidarity with India.
The prime minister, Narendra Modi, who was on an official visit to Saudi Arabia, cut short his trip and returned to New Delhi to oversee the response. He chaired high-level meetings with the national security advisor, Ajit Doval; foreign minister, S Jaishankar; and other senior officials immediately upon arrival.
Meanwhile, security forces have launched an intensive search operation to track down those responsible for the attack. Intelligence agencies are working round the clock, and patrols have been intensified across the region.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and the identities of the assailants remain unknown. However, local authorities suggest that an offshoot of the Pakistan-based anti-India terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba called The Resistance Force might be behind the attack.
Authorities have released sketches of the suspects based on eyewitness accounts and CCTV footage from the area. These sketches are being circulated widely across security agencies and the public to gather leads and expedite the investigation. Special teams from the National Investigation Agency and other central agencies have been deployed to assist local police and paramilitary forces in the hunt for the perpetrators.
The mortal remains of Corporal Tage Hailyang are being transported to his native village in Arunachal Pradesh, where the community is preparing to bid farewell to their brave son.
