Dhakpa Tenzin, a resident of Selpokhari in Lava, Kalimpong district, was a member of the Special Frontier Force (SFF), an elite paramilitary unit whose origins go back to the aftermath of the 1962 India-China war.

Tenzin, who was in his late thirties, died in the Leo Pargial (Peak 6791) region of Himachal Pradesh on August 29.

Darjeeling MP Raju Bista on Monday paid tribute to Tenzin.

"A resident of Selpokhari, Lava, in Kalimpong District, Shri Tenzin was a brave and dedicated member of the Special Frontier Force. A courageous mountaineer, he had successfully summited Mount Everest twice and served the nation with exceptional valour, commitment, and devotion," Bista said.

"Tragically, he lost his life in the line of duty in the Leo Pargial (Peak 6791) region of Himachal Pradesh, near the Tibet border, on 29 August 2026," the MP added.

A close friend of Tenzin, who retired from the SFF, told The Telegraph that the mountaineer had received a special promotion and was serving as a "subedar" after his Everest feat. "He also used to participate in high altitude marathons," the former SFF member said.

Tenzin was unmarried, and his parents had predeceased him. His brother and sister and their families live in Lava, a source said.

"His body is expected to be brought to Lava on Tuesday, and the funeral is scheduled for September 2," said the source.

The SFF occupies a unique position in India's security establishment. The SFF does not form part of the Indian Army. The covert force functions under the Cabinet Secretariat and is headed by an inspector general drawn from the army in the rank of Major General.

The force was raised in November 1962, in the immediate aftermath of the war with China, primarily from Tibetan refugees in India, particularly the Khampa tribe with experience of resistance against Chinese forces in Tibet.

It came to be known as "Establishment 22", a name associated with its first commander, Brigadier Sujan Singh Uban, who later became a Major General. He had commanded the 22nd mountain/medium regiment during World War II.

The Intelligence Bureau was closely involved in creating the force, and the SFF is headquartered near Dehradun.

Initially, the SFF ranks were overwhelmingly drawn from the Tibetan refugee community.

Over the years, however, the SFF also inducted Gorkhas, and the force today is largely composed of Tibetans and Gorkhas.

"Its original purpose was particularly suited to the Himalayan frontier, creating a force capable of conducting unconventional and covert operations against China, including operations behind enemy lines if another conflict broke out," a retired SFF member told this newspaper.

The SFF later moved beyond its original China-specific role to take part in some of India's most sensitive military operations.

Accounts of the force record its deployment in the Chittagong Hill tracts during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War and later operations, including the Kargil conflict. The force lost at least five personnel during the Kargil conflict.

Much about its operations, however, has traditionally remained outside the public domain because of the covert nature of the organisation.

The SFF personnel are distinct from regular army soldiers in terms of their service structure and conditions.

Former members of the force said its personnel used to receive a consolidated amount on retirement but no pension. "This has been changed, and we do receive pensions now," said a retired member.