The Indian Army and the Ladakh administration on Monday unveiled the bust of a Tibetan soldier who died defending Indian territory in Ladakh during last year’s Chinese incursion, indicating that there has been no let-up in the hostility between the two countries more than a year into the standoff.

The Ladakh Buddhist Association hosted the event in Leh on Monday to mark the first death anniversary of Nyima Tenzing, the 51-year-old soldier of the secret Special Frontier Force (SSF) of the army comprising mostly Tibetans. He died on August 30 last year after stepping on an anti-personnel mine near the southern bank of the Pangong Lake.

The incident took place around the time when the Indian Army had launched a major operation to outflank the Chinese in capturing some dominant locations near the southern bank of the lake.

A top Buddhist monk from Ladakh, Bakula Rangdol Nima Rinpochey, unveiled the bronze bust of Tenzing on the premises of the Dalai Lama’s residence, Jive Tsal, in Leh. Officers from the army and the paramilitary forces laid wreaths at the bust to commemorate his sacrifice.

Among those who paid tributes were Leh sub-area general officer commanding Sunit Mehrotra, Leh chief executive councillor Tashi Gyaltson, Ladakh Buddhist Association president and former Ladakh MP Thupstan Chewang and senior ITBP, police and civil officers.

“Leh remembers late Company Leader #NyimaTenzin of 7 #Vikas Regiment on his Martyrdom day. CEC@tashi_gyalson and other dignitaries unveil Bronze Bust statue of late Nyima Tenzing in his memory at Jive-Tsal Leh,” tweeted the official handle of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council.

Chewang said their association unveiled the bust with the help of the Indian government, claiming it would go a long way in keeping the memory of the slain soldier alive.

“It has been more than a year since China, under its expansionist policy, tried to intrude into our territory, particularly in Ladakh. We are proud of the way the Indian Army defended our territory,” he said.

Chewang said the SSF had not only played an important role during last year’s Chinese aggression but also in the Bangladesh and Kargil wars.

“The memorial will keep reminding us of the day and serve as an inspiration,” he said.

Monday’s event came two days after Penpa Tsering, a Tibetan politician who was elected this year as the second Sikyong (president) of the 17th Parliament-in-exile of the Central Tibetan Administration, concluded his weeklong visit to Ladakh. On Monday, Tsering unveiled a bust of Tenzing at Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh.