Observed on October 21 every year, the Police Commemoration Day remembers the sacrifices of ten policemen who died in Chinese firing in 1959. Chinese troops opened fire and threw grenades at a party of 20 police personnel. Ten were killed in the incident, which left seven others injured, who were later taken as prisoners. Three weeks later, China returned the bodies of the ten personnel which were later cremated with full police honours at Hot Springs in North Eastern Ladakh. Ever since the incident, October 21 has been observed as Police Commemoration Day in remembrance of the martyrs. A memorial was erected at Hot Springs and members of Police Forces from different parts of the country trek to Hot Springs to pay homage to the martyrs. Since the year 2012, the Police Commemoration Day Parade is being held at the National level at the Police Memorial, Chanakyapuri. Police personnel had been responsible for manning the 2,500 mile long border of India with Tibet until the autumn of 1959.
On this day, Prime Minister and other ministers pays tribute to the late heroes. A special parade will be there at the Police Memorial to coincide with Army Day. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has said that police officers are the ones who work without any hesitation in maintaining law and order or disaster relief. Those who do all the work without hesitation, from law enforcement to proving heinous crimes. They are relentlessly engaged in disaster relief operations and now in the fight against corona. “We are proud of their willingness and enthusiasm to serve the people,” he tweeted. This day is to thank the police officers and their families all over India. Tributes are paid to all police officers who were martyred while on duty. He added that their sacrifice and service will always be remembered.
Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah on Monday paid tributes to the officers on Police Force Day who lost their lives during the execution. So far, 35,398 police officers have lost their lives in the line of duty. This police memorial commemorates the martyrdom of the heroes who sacrificed their lives for the country. Thus, by remembering the brave policemen who sacrificed their lives while discharging their duties, we can also pay tributes to the martyrs on this National Police Commemoration Day.
