New Delhi, October 21: A total of 154 police personnel lost their lives in the line of duty over the past year, taking the number of police martyrs since Independence to 36,852, Intelligence Bureau (IB) Director Mahesh Dixit said on Wednesday.
Addressing the Police Commemoration Day observance at the National Police Memorial in New Delhi, Dixit paid tribute to personnel who died while serving the country and protecting its citizens.
He recalled the sacrifice of 10 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, led by Intelligence Bureau officer Karam Singh, who were killed while confronting Chinese troops at Hot Springs in Ladakh on October 21, 1959. The incident led to the annual observance of Police Commemoration Day on October 21.
Dixit said a joint commemorative parade was held at the National Police Memorial, with personnel from the Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), CRPF, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), National Security Guard (NSG), Assam Rifles, Railway Protection Force (RPF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Delhi Police participating.
He added that commemorative events would be organised at the memorial from October 22 to 30 by various Central Armed Police Forces, with families of police personnel who died in the line of duty also taking part.
The events follow recommendations made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 2019 conference of Directors General and Inspectors General of Police.
Earlier, Modi paid tribute to police personnel in a post on X, acknowledging their contribution to maintaining law and order, combating crime, responding to emergencies and ensuring public safety.
Police Commemoration Day is observed annually across the country to honour personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of the nation.
