Our Correspondent
Kohima, Oct. 21 (EMN): The Nagaland Police on Friday observed Police Commemoration day at Tennis Court in New Reserve Phesama, Kohima.
Speaking on the occasion, Director General of Police (DGP) T John Longkumer recalled its inception following an incident on October 21 in 1959 that changed the perception of the sacrifices made by policemen.
"On this day, the October 21 in 1959 a CRPF Mobile Patrolling Party led by DCIO Karam Singh was ambushed in Aksai—Chin area of Ladakh by overwhelming numbers of Chinese troops,10 were killed and rest taken prisoners," he said.
The state police chief said the dead bodies of the deceased were handed over by the Chinese on November 13, 1959 and cremated at 8 am on November 14 at Hot Springs, located at an altitude of 1600 feet in Ladakh, and it was in the year 1960, the Heads of Police of all States of India decided in a Conference to observe October 21 as a Police Commemoration Day throughout India.
"Throughout India, on this day, we remember the sacrifice of not only those killed in Ladakh, but also acknowledge the sacrifices of all policemen and women who laid down their lives in the line of duty," said the DGP Nagaland.
In recognition of the sacrifices made by policemen, a national police memorial has been erected by the government of India at New Delhi where the Home Minister of India pays homage on behalf of the nation on this day, he informed.
He elucidated that in a thriving democracy, the role of police is perceived to be the presever of law and order; that "the sacrifice of human life is a supreme sacrifice".
Asserting that the Nagaland police have made such sacrifices in the past and this year too, one Lance Naik Y Vihekhu Sema of the 8th NAP, while performing duty at New Delhi. He said 264 policemen from all over India laid down their lives in the service of the nation.
"We pay our respects to these brave and valiant police personnel who sacrificed their valuable lives to protect the integrity and security of the country. As we mourn their loss, we take pride in their sacrifice and the ideals for which they stood," said Longkumer.
He told the gathering that police is a public service and the commemoration day is also an occasion to renew one’s pledge to serve the people, to maintain public order, safeguard the internal security and contribute to the development of the nation.
On the occasion R Vikram Ezung read out the roll of honours and the police officers and invitees led by the DGP laid wreath on the cenotaph, solemnly honouring all the jawans who had sacrificed for the nation.