New
Delhi, Oct 20: Home Minister Rajnath Singh will pay homage to police
martyrs here on Saturday on the occasion of police commemmoration day. On this
occasion, the Home Minister will attend the Police Commemoration Day Parade at
the Police Memorial Ground here . The day commemorates the sacrifices of ten
policemen while defending our borders with China in 1959. Indian Police
personnel were responsible for manning the 2,500 mile long border of India with
Tibet until the autumn of 1959. On October 20, 1959, three reconnaissance
parties were launched from Hot Springs in North Eastern Ladakh in preparation
for further movement of an Indian expedition which was on its way to Lanak
Pass. While members of two parties returned to Hot Springs by the afternoon of
that day, the third one comprising of two Police Constables and a Porter did
not return. All available personnel were mobilized early next morning in search
of the missing personnel. A team of about 20 Police personnel led by Karam
Singh, DCIO proceeded ahead on horseback, while other followed on foot in three
Sections. At about mid day, Chinese Army personnel were seen on a hillock who
opened fire and threw grenades at the party led by Mr Singh. Since there was no
cover, most personnel were injured. Ten of our brave Police Personnel attained
martyrdom and seven others sustained injuries. The seven injured were taken
prisoners by the Chinese while the remaining managed to escape. Bodies of the
ten personnel were returned by the Chinese only on November 13, 1959, a full
three weeks after the incident. These bodies were cremated with full Police
honours at Hot Springs. The Annual Conference of Inspectors General of Police
of States and Union Territories held in January 1960 decided that October 21
would henceforth be observed as ‘Commemoration Day’ in all Police Lines
throughout India to mark the memory of these gallant personnel who were killed
in Ladakh and all other Police personnel killed on duty during the year. It was
also decided to erect a memorial at Hot Springs and, every year, members of
Police Forces from different parts of the country trek to Hot Springs to pay
homage to those gallant martyrs. Since the year 2012, the Police Commemoration
Day Parade is being held at the National level at the Police Memorial in
Chanakyapuri. So far since Independence, 34,418 Police personnel have
sacrificed their lives for safeguarding the integrity of the nation and
providing security to people of this country. During the last one year, from
September 2016 to August 2017, 383 Police personnel have laid down their lives.
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Home Minister to pay homage to Police Martyrs on police commemmoration day tomorrow
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