64TH POLICE COMMEMORATION DAY: DGP GAURAV YADAV PAYS TRIBUTES TO POLICE MARTYRS

CM BHAGWANT MANN’S INITIATIVE ‘SADAK SURKHYA FORCE’ TO HIT ROADS SOON AS COPS UNDERGOING SPECIAL TRAINING

Chandigarh/Jalandhar, October 21:

          The 64th state-level Police Commemoration Day was observed at the Punjab Armed Police (PAP) headquarters here on Saturday to pay tributes to the brave Police personnel, who had sacrificed their lives, fighting militants and criminals for the unity and integrity of the nation.

          Paying glowing tributes to the martyrs of the police, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav said the Punjab Police have a glorious history of valour and sacrifice. He said that the members of the force had laid down their lives to maintain the unity of the nation and give security to the citizens. He said the state Police had sacrificed its 1797 officials including three in this year since September 1981.

          While addressing the gathering after paying floral tributes to the bravehearts, who laid down their lives for the sake of the country, the Punjab Police Chief said it was because of these martyrs we all are enjoying the freedom. He said that the Punjab Police is known for its bravery, courage, and successfully rooting out militancy. He said that the Punjab Police had always remained at the forefront to save the motherland from the enemies. He said that Punjab Police would continue to work harder towards maintaining peace and communal harmony in the border state.

          Meanwhile, interacting with media persons on the sidelines of the event, DGP Gaurav Yadav said that the flagship project Sadak Surkhya Force (SSF)— a brainchild of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, would hit the roads soon, which will not only help in saving precious lives by reducing mishaps, but will also streamline the traffic movement in the state. He said that as many as 1500 cops part of SSF were already undergoing specialised training for road safety, and orders to purchase 121 new Toyota Hilux and 28 interceptor vehicles for the force have already been placed. He also said that these vehicles would be deployed at every 30 km and would play a pivotal role in ensuring road safety.

          The Punjab Police Chief said that the Punjab Police had taken a ruthless approach against the drug dealers and would not rest until the menace was completely wiped out from the state. He said that Punjab Police had embarked on a three-pronged strategy of ‘enforcement’, ‘de-addiction’ and ‘prevention’ for making Punjab a drug-free state. Punjab Police also launched mass awareness drive against drugs as part of which several competitions including hockey matches, cycling, marathons, painting, etc are being organised to channelise the energy of youth in right direction, he added.

          The DGP said that while strict action is being initiated against drug smugglers, the victim drug consumers are being taken to De-addiction Centres for their rehabilitation.

          DGP Punjab Gaurav Yadav, speaking on the occasion, assured fulsome support and cooperation from the Punjab Government and Punjab Police to the families of martyrs. “We will not let the sacrifices of our Heroes go in vain. I assure you that the Punjab Police will continue to serve with full dedication and bravery to ensure peace and harmony in the border state,” he said.

          Post event, the DGP also met the families of martyrs and listened them sympathetically. He assured them of every possible help from Punjab Police.

          Earlier, names of all 189 police martyrs of this year, including Mandeep Singh, Kuldeep Singh, Parminder Singh of Punjab Police who died while fighting gangsters, were read out by Commandment 80th Battalion Navjot Singh Mahal. A two-minute silence was observed, and later, senior officials laid wreaths at the martyrs’ memorial.

          Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Cabinet Minister Balkar Singh, several ADGPs and IGPs, and others senior police officer/officials.

BOX: HISTORY OF POLICE COMMEMORATION DAY

           The history of commemoration day goes back to October 21, 1959 when a patrol party of the CRPF, led by SI Karam Singh, was ambushed by Chinese forces at Hot Springs in Ladakh and 10 jawans were killed. The bravery and the resulting sacrifice of jawans, fighting at 16,000 ft altitude in extremely cold conditions and against all odds, is an epitome of the rarest of the rare courage. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police sends a representative party of all police forces of the country to Hot Springs, Ladakh, every year to pay homage to the martyrs who laid down their lives on October 21, 1959, while guarding the national frontiers.

           Since then on October 21 every year, commemoration parades are held in all police units as a mark of respect to brave police martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. Arms are reversed and a two-minute 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 the supreme sacrifices made by them.