Every year, October 21 is celebrated as the Police Commemoration Day, to pay tributes to all police personnel who died in the line of duty. Last year, tributes were also paid to the cops who lost their lives due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
“On the occasion of Police Commemoration Day, we pay homage to the brave hearts who lost their lives for the country in the line of duty. The nation will never forget their sacrifices,” the Indian Police Service (Central) Association tweeted on Thursday.
History
The Police Commemoration Day remembers the ultimate sacrifice of 10 police personnel who lost their lives on October 21, 1959 in Ladakh while fighting the Chinese army.
The Chinese army opened fire and threw grenades at the Indian police party which comprised 20 personnel. Apart from the 10 personnel who were martyred, seven were taken as prisoners and the remaining three managed to escape.
Tributes pour in
On Thursday morning, the country’s political fraternity paid tributes to the valiant police personnel.
“On Police Commemoration Day, I would like to acknowledge the outstanding efforts by our police forces in preserving law and order, and assisting others in times of need. I pay homage to all those police personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.
“I salute the courage and dedication of our police forces and pay homage to the selfless sacrifices of the martyrs in the line of duty on the occasion of Police Commemoration Day,” Union home minister Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted
“On #IndianPoliceCommemorationDay, we pay our heartfelt tribute to all the police personnel who lost their lives during the Chinese firing in 1959 and all other police personnel who strive day in & day out to keep us safe & make the ultimate sacrifice on the line of duty,” Congress party said on Twitter.
Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray & deputy CM Ajit Pawar lay wreath to pay tribute to police personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty on Police Commemoration Day in Mumbai
“Wishing a very Happy Police Commemoration Day to all the policemen who keep us safe without thinking about their own lives,” Union minister Pralhad Joshi.
CM Yogi Adityanath lays wreath at Reserve Police Lines, to pay tribute to police personnel who lost their lives in line of duty on Police Commemoration Day in Lucknow
J&K Lt Guv Manoj Sinha pays homage to policemen who laid down their lives in the line of duty on occasion of Police Commemoration Day, at APC
On National Police Day 17 J&K cops martyred in the line of duty in the last one year
As many as 17 police personnel of Jammu and Kashmir Police have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty in the past one year while fighting in combat operations across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Thursday.
Likewise in other parts of the country, Jammu and Kashmir Police is also commemorating the National Police Day here on Thursday.
A police official told that in the last one year 377 security personnel, including 17 from Jammu and Kashmir Police have sacrificed their lives between October 21, 2020 till October 19, 2021 in the line of duty.
In the case of Jammu and Kashmir, two inspectors, one Assistant Sub-Inspector, 11 constables and three special police officers were among those who attained martyrdom in the various anti-insurgency operations, said an official.
In Kashmir, the main program was held in Srinagar wherein Director General of Police Dilbag Singh paid tributes, while in Jammu, the function was held at Police Stadium, Gulshan Ground.
Apart from this, tributes will also be paid to the martyrs at the Police Martyrs Memorial at the Jammu Railway Station in the evening.
“In view of COVID guidelines, only the families of martyred police personnel have been invited to attend the functions apart from some dignitaries,” he said.
National Police Commemoration Day is observed every year to remember the brave policemen who sacrificed their lives while discharging their duties on October 21, 1959.