Assam Rifles on 65 years of 14th Dalai Lama's escape to India from Tibet
Assam Rifles was deployed in Kameng Frontier Division of the Arunachal Pradesh since 1958. Its posts were spanning over a large area including Chuthangmu, Bumla and Chuna in Kameng Frontier and Longju & Taksing in Subhansiri Frontier. During this period, there was a uprising going on in Tibet.
The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, along with his family escaped from Lhasa on 17 Mar 1959. On March 26 1959, Dalai Lama’s fleeing caravan finally reached Lhuntse Dzong — a few days march from the McMahon Line from border between India and Tibet. The Journey of the Dalai Lama into India was not only a symbolic act of defiance against the Chinese occupation but also a testament to the compassion and support extended by the Indian government and its armed forces, particularly the 5 Assam Rifles regiment.
Tibetan Uprising
In 1959, Tibetan Rebellion began with a revolt in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet Area, which had been under the effective control of the People's Republic of China and was subjected to socialist reform.
Armed conflict between Tibetan rebels and the People's Liberation Army started and spread to other areas of Tibet. The Chinese attempted to subdue the Tibetans by targeting political and spiritual leaders. His Holiness the Dalai Lama, being a cynosure, therefore became a prime target in their attempts to quell the freedom movement.
Since, then he has been living in Dharamshala, Northern India. The Central Tibetan Administration led by His Holiness has long appealed to the UN to consider the question of Tibet. The General Assembly resultantly, adopted three resolutions on Tibet in 1959, 1961 and 1965.
