Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday paid homage to police martyrs at the National Police Memorial, New Delhi on the occasion of the Police Commemoration Day. It is observed every year to pay tribute and honour the brave policemen who have laid down their lives in the line of duty.

The day traces its history back to 21 October 1959, when twenty Indian soldiers were ambushed by the PLA in Ladakh’s Hot Spring area. The Chinese troops opened fired and threw grenades at the Police party. Ten Police personnel lost their lives and seven were imprisoned who later managed to escape. It was only on November 28, 1959, that the Chinese troops handed over the bodies of the martyred policemen to India. Their cremation was held with full Police honours at the Hot springs in Ladakh.

The Annual Conference of Inspectors General of Police of States and Union Territories held in January 1960 decided that in order to commemorate the exceptional act of Valour by the men of CRPF, October 21 will be observed as ‘Police Commemoration Day’ across the country. Since 1961, more than 34,000 police personnel have sacrificed their lives for the security of the nation and service to society.

In 2018, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the first-ever National Police Memorial in New Delhi on the occasion of Police Commemoration Day. The memorial occupies an area of 6.12 acres and is located in New Delhi’s Chanakyapuri. It consists of a 30-foot tall black granite central sculpture, and a museum, and a ‘Wall of Valour’ bearing the names of all 34,844 police personnel who sacrificed their lives while discharging their duties.