AMN / New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today dedicated the National Police Memorial (NPM) to the nation on the occasion of the Police Commemoration Day.
The memorial has been built in recognition of the supreme sacrifice made by police personnel since independence. Mr Modi also laid a wreath at the memorial in respect and memory of the police martyrs.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh and veteran leader Lal Krishna Advani among others paid homage to the martyrs. Director, Intelligence Bureau Rajiv Jain read out the names of all Police Personnel who laid down their lives in the line of duty this year.
Tributes to our brave police personnel. Dedicating to the nation the National Police Memorial. https://t.co/yp49snY5EN
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 21, 2018
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Modi said, police forces have failed the elements that were trying to disturb the nation and were hatching conspiracy to create an atmosphere of fear and insecurity. He said, the Police forces have not only uphold law and order, peace and security in the nation but also have shown immense courage during disasters due to which precious lives were saved.
The memorial has been erected on 6.12 acres of land in Chanakyapuri, at the northern end of Shanti Path. The central sculpture of the NPM is a 30 feet monolith made of a single piece of granite, weighing 238 tonnes. Its weight and colour symbolise the gravitas and solemnity of the supreme sacrifice. A 60-foot long river at the base of the sculpture reflects the continuous self-service of the policeman and woman, to maintain peace and public order.
The Wall of Valour has the names of all 34,844 police martyrs engraved on the granite. The Prime Minister also dedicated a Police Museum to the nation on the occasion. It contains artifacts and points of time that shaped the history of the Indian police.
The Police Commemoration Day is observed on this day every year in memory of the policemen martyred at Hot Springs in Ladakh by Chinese troops on 21st October 1959.
The National Police Memorial represents all States and Union Territory Police Forces and Central Police Organizations of the country. According to an official release, since Independence of the country, 34 thousand 844 police personnel have been martyred, with 424 losing their lives this year. Many of these brave lives were lost in the fight against terrorism in various parts of the country.