Police Commemoration Day

The Police Commemoration Day is observed on 21st October every year
This is day is observed as Martyr's Day in all police forces of India
The day commemorates the sacrifices of ten policemen who sacrificed their life while defending our borders with China in 1959.

Hot Spring in Aksai Chin in Ladakh is situated between 15,000 and 16,000 ft above the sea level on the Indo-Tibet border which was being manned by the Indian Police.
In 1959, observing heightened activity of the Chinese Army, the Indo –Tibetan Border Force consisting of personnel from CRPF, as well as other forces were deployed for guarding the Indo-Tibet border.

On October 20, 1959, three reconnaissance parties were launched from Hot Springs in North Eastern Ladakh. This was in preparation for further movement of an Indian expedition which was on its way to Lanak La 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.
This team was led by DSP / DCIO Shri Karam Singh
At about mid day, Chinese Army personnel were seen on a hillock who opened fire and threw grenades at the party led by Shri Karam 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
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” / Martyr’s Day
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.

DSP Karam Singh of the ITBF (Left) and the Memorial (Right) for the policemen killed during the fighting on the 21st of October 1959 still exists and serves as a pilgrimage visited every year by Policemen from across the country

Since Independence, 34,832 Police personnel have sacrificed their lives for safeguarding the integrity of the nation and providing security to people of this country.
Since Independence, 23,000 Indian Army soldiers have made supreme sacrifice
During the last one year, from September 2017 to August 2018, 414 Police personnel have laid down their lives. In 2017, 106 Indian Army soldiers have laid down their lives

A National Police Memorial is created at Chanakyapuri, New Delhi as testimony of the sacrifices made by countless policemen in performance of their duty
The Memorial gives police Forces a sense of national identity, pride, unity of purpose, common history and destiny.
“The Wall of Valour” – 30 feet tall granite sculpture stands at police memorial with the names of over 35,000 martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty and reminds of their valour and glory

Area : 6.3 Acres
Museum : 1,600 Sq. Mtrs
Central Sculpture: 30ft x 8ft x 8ft
Location: 27, Kautilya Marg, Diplomatic Enclave, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, Delhi 110011

The arms are reversed (Shok Shastra) and two minutes silence is observed in the honour of the departed souls.
The names of police martyrs of states, police and paramilitary forces are read out, to acknowledge with pride the supreme sacrifices made by them.
Three volley of shots are fired as a mark of respect to the martyrs.
The Policeman is denounced by the Public; Criticized by the Preacher; Ridiculed by the Movies; Berated by the Newspapers and Unsupported by the prosecuting officers and judges. He is shunned by respectable. He is exposed to countless temptations and dangers. Condemned while he enforces the law and dismissed when does not. He is supposed to possess the qualifications of soldier, doctor, lawyer, diplomat and educator with remuneration less than that of a daily labourer. “AUGUST VOLLMORE”

A National Police Museum depicts the history, artefacts, police related gazette notifications, unique weapons and uniforms of central and state police forces
It is a national level permanent exhibition on policing subjects
A section of the museum will be dedicated to the memory of the police martyrs from the various police forces of the country