New Delhi: Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh will pay homage to fallen police personnel on Police Commemoration Day, observed annually on October 21, at the National Police Memorial (NPM) in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. The solemn ceremony honors the supreme sacrifice of ten valiant policemen who lost their lives in an ambush by heavily armed Chinese troops at Hot Springs, Ladakh, on October 21, 1959 — a moment etched in the nation’s collective memory.
Since then, October 21 has been marked across India to commemorate not only the Hot Springs martyrs but all police personnel who have laid down their lives in the line of duty. The main function will be held at the National Police Memorial, where Rajnath Singh will preside over the proceedings and lead the nation in paying tribute.
The event will feature a joint parade by the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Delhi Police, followed by wreath-laying ceremonies by the Raksha Mantri, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Members of Parliament with police backgrounds, and Heads of CAPFs and Central Police Organisations (CPOs). Retired Director Generals, senior officers from the police fraternity, and other dignitaries will also be in attendance.
Apart from the ceremonial homage, Rajnath Singh will address the gathering, reflecting on the sacrifices made by police personnel and highlighting the evolving challenges of policing in India. The programme will conclude with a wreath laid at the altar dedicated to the martyrs of Hot Springs.
The National Police Memorial, dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Police Commemoration Day in 2018, stands as a symbol of strength, resilience, and selfless service. It comprises a 30-foot granite monolith cenotaph, the ‘Wall of Valour’ engraved with names of martyrs since Independence, and a museum chronicling the history and evolution of policing in India. The Memorial is open to the public every day except Mondays and hosts band displays, parades, and retreat ceremonies by CAPFs every Saturday and Sunday evening.
As part of the extended commemorations from October 22 to 30, CAPFs and CPOs will organize a series of events at the Memorial, including visits by families of martyrs, police band performances, motorcycle rallies, “Run for Martyrs,” blood donation camps, essay and painting competitions for children, and screenings of video films showcasing the valor and service of police personnel. Similar tributes and programmes will be held by police forces across the country during this period.
The event will be telecast live on Doordarshan, webcast on official police websites, and covered extensively by All India Radio and other media outlets.
