Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 21: National Police Day, also referred to as Police Commemoration Day, was observed with deep reverence across Jammu province, paying tribute to the brave police personnel who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty.
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This day, held annually on October 21, commemorates the martyrdom of 10 CRPF personnel who were ambushed and killed by Chinese troops at Hot Springs, Ladakh, on the same day in 1959.
The entire province came together in various districts to honour these heroes with solemn ceremonies, parades and tribute.
In Jammu, the primary event was held at the Gulshan Ground, where Anand Jain, ADGP Jammu Zone, took the ceremonial salute at the Commemoration Day Parade.
Senior police officers, retired personnel, families of martyrs, and representatives of civil society gathered in large numbers to mark the occasion.
The parade featured GOs of all Jammu-based units and included senior and retired officers, members of the media and prominent citizens.
During the event, Jain read out the names of martyrs from police organizations and paramilitary forces, including the BSF, CRPF, ITBP, CISF, SSB, NCB, NDRF and FS, CD, and HG.
In his address, ADGP Jammu Anand Jain praised the invaluable contributions of these martyrs, noting their courage and sacrifice in the face of hostile conditions, often at great personal cost.
Jain extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the fallen and prayed for the eternal peace of their souls.
Following the ceremony, ADGP Jain interacted with the Next of Kin (NoK) of the martyrs, assuring them of continued support and timely action on the requests they submitted.
Earlier, Jammu-based GOs assembled at the Police Martyrs Memorial at the Railway Station, where they laid floral tribute to the martyrs.
In a gesture of solidarity, a blood donation camp was also organized at the Police Hospital in Jammu in collaboration with GMC Jammu.
The camp saw senior police officers and volunteers donate 80 units of blood, further demonstrating the police’s commitment to serving the community.
At Sher-i-Kashmir Police Academy (SKPA) Udhampur, the commemoration parade was held with ADGP Garib Dass, Director of SKPA, taking the salute.
Dass informed the gathering about the history behind Police Commemoration Day, recalling the ambush of the CRPF patrol party led by SI Karam Singh at Hot Springs, Ladakh, in 1959.
He lauded the exceptional bravery of the personnel who, despite facing overwhelming odds and extreme weather conditions, laid down their lives at an altitude of 16,000 feet.
Garib Dass read out the names of 216 martyrs from various states’ police forces, paramilitary organizations, and fire services who made the ultimate sacrifice over the past year.
Alongside other senior officials, Garib Dass laid floral tribute at the Shaheedi Smarak and engaged in a dialogue with the martyrs’ families.
At the Police Technical Training Institute (PTTI) Vijaypur, Principal SSP Dushyant Sharma led the observance of Police Commemoration Day.
He recounted the history of the day and reiterated the significance of honouring the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country’s security and sovereignty.
Sharma read out the names of 214 police personnel, including seven from Jammu and Kashmir, who laid down their lives during the past year.
Several retired police officers, civil dignitaries, and residents of the area participated in the ceremony, paying their respects and offering floral tribute at the Martyrs Memorial.
In Udhampur District, a solemn Police Commemoration Day parade was observed at the District Police Lines (DPL).
DIG Rayees Mohammad Bhat presided over the event, which included participation from SSP Udhampur Amod Nagpure and other district police officers.
Families of police martyrs, retired personnel, and prominent citizens were invited to the parade, where the names of the martyrs were read aloud.
A guard of honour was followed by floral tribute at the Shaheedi Smarak.
District Police, as a token of appreciation, distributed gift packs to the families of martyrs, symbolizing the ongoing support from the police force.
District Reasi witnessed a moving tribute at DPL Reasi, where contingents of police and paramilitary forces participated in the Commemoration Day Parade.
SSP Gaurav Sikarwar led the parade, accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Vishesh Paul Mahajan and other senior officers.
The ceremony concluded with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Martyrs Memorial, where families of the martyrs and local residents paid their respects.
Following the parade, the police administration held an interactive session with the NoKs, addressing their grievances and ensuring support from the J&K Police for their welfare.
SSP Sikarwar emphasized that the police would continue to stand by the families of the fallen heroes in their times of need.
In Kishtwar, a similar event was held at the District Police Lines, where SSP Abdul Qayoom led the proceedings.
A special commemoration parade was organized with participation from police, CRPF, and CISF contingents.
Qayoom paid heartfelt tribute to the martyrs and urged the officers to uphold the values of patriotism, nationalism, and integrity in their duties.
The event also included a luncheon for the families of the martyrs, reinforcing the strong bond between the police force and the NoKs.
Grievances raised by the martyrs’ families were addressed, and gifts were distributed as token of respect.
In Ramban district, the commemoration event was held at District Police Lines ground Chandroog.
There, except army, the cops of all Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), including the cops of police martyred across India since October 21, 1959 were remembered by paying them the floral tribute by the civil and Police administration led by SSP, Kulbir Singh and Deputy Commissioner Basheer-Ul-Haq Chaudhary in the presence of prominent locals including DDC Chairperson Ramban, Dr Shamshaad Shaan and the family members of the martyrs.
In his address, SSP Kulbir Singh said that as many as 254 cops of the Central Armed Police Forces were martyred in the line of duty during the past one year across the country.
He also listened to the grievances of the family members of the cops on the occasion.
In Rajouri, SSP Randeep Kumar, alongside DIG Tejinder Singh, led the tribute to the martyrs at DPL Rajouri.
The parade featured participation from contingents of police and paramilitary forces, with the families of martyrs present to honour their loved ones.
Rajouri police assured the families that the doors of all police institutions would remain open to them for any assistance.
In a final act of remembrance, officers and civil society members offered wreaths and flowers at the Martyrs Memorial.
The Police Commemoration Day was also observed at Doda, where SSP Mohammad Aslam presided over the commemoration parade.
Officers and jawans were reminded of the importance of patriotism and the duty to serve the nation with dedication.
The event concluded with a floral tribute ceremony and a session where officers interacted with the NoKs, addressing their concerns and distributing blankets and refreshments.
In Poonch, the day began with a ceremonial parade led by SSP Mumtaz Ahmed at DPL Poonch.
The names of the fallen police personnel were read aloud in a poignant roll of honour.
Families of the martyrs were felicitated, and the police force reassured them of their continued support. A grievance redressal camp was also held, addressing the concerns of the NoKs and ensuring prompt action on their issues.
Throughout the province, these solemn events marked a collective remembrance of the police martyrs who laid down their lives for the unity and integrity of the nation.
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