Lhalu Lhacham Sonam Dekyi

Wife of Lhalu Tsewang Dorje. When Tibetan soldiers used the roof of the Lhalu house to fire on the Chinese troops, she also manned a Bren gun and fired on advancing PLA troops. She learnt to shoot a Bren gun when she was with her husband in Chamdo. She was later arrested and underwent thamzing struggle. She was beaten and tortured.

Earlier she was a noted Lhasa beauty and the first Tibetan woman to openly ride a motorbike in the city.

In frame: Lhalu family at Dekyi Lingka.