CHANDIGARH: The 65th state-level Police Commemoration Day was observed at the Punjab Armed Police (PAP) headquarters here on Monday 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 is an exceptional force which served the country both in times of peace and disturbance. 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 1799 officials, including two police personnel 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.
DGP Gaurav Yadav, while interacting with media persons on the sidelines of the event, said that street crime and sale-of-drugs are the two areas identified, which directly affect the common citizens. To combat the street crime, a strategy has been devised to identify crime hotspots using crime mapping, and intensify police patrolling and deployment accordingly at such areas, he said.
He said that, similarly, to break the cycle of drugs, drug hotspots are being identified with the help of people, and CPs/SSPs are organising public meetings to gather firsthand information about drug sale points.
"Our topmost priority is common citizens. We are identifying what affects them the most and working on to solve them, ” the DGP said, while reiterating, “We want to give people friendly and effective policing to the people of Punjab.”
Replying to a query on extortion calls, DGP Gaurav Yadav said that the analyses by the Punjab Police revealed that over 80 percent of such calls are being made by local criminals pretending to be notorious gangsters, while less than 20 percent come from actual so-called gangsters. He urged citizens to report such crimes promptly, directing CPs/SSPs to convert each and every extortion call or any other petty crime including snatching into an FIR to carry out thorough probe.
He said that Punjab Police has adopted a proactive approach against organised crime, with officers/officials instructed to retaliate in self-defence if any criminal opens fire at the police team.
He said that Punjab Police has also started a health insurance scheme for police personnel under which 300 hospitals have been empanelled across the state, where police personnel can avail medical facilities at subsidised rates.
Post event, DGP Gaurav Yadav also met the families of martyrs and listened to them sympathetically and 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.
Meanwhile, a well-organised commemoration parade was held at the Police Martyr’s memorial constructed inside the PAP campus. After giving a general salute to the DGP Punjab, the names of all 213 police martyrs, including Constable Amritpal Singh and PHG Jaspal Singh of Punjab Police— who died during law and order duty, of this year were read out by Commandment 75th Battalion PAP Jalandhar Vivek Sheel Soni. A two-minute silence was observed, and later, senior officials laid wreaths at the martyr’s memorial.
Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Special DGsP, several ADGsP and IGsP, and others senior police officers/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.