Jalandhar: To honour the valiant police personnel who laid down their lives while fighting militants and criminals for the unity and integrity of the nation, the 67th State-Level Police Commemoration Day was observed with solemnity and reverence at the Punjab Armed Police (PAP) Headquarters in Jalandhar on Wednesday.
Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav led the solemn homage ceremony and laid floral wreaths at the Police Martyrs’ Memorial. He was accompanied by Special DGP Law and Order Praveen Kumar Sinha and ADGP PAP MF Farooqui.
Describing the Punjab Police as an exceptional and legendary force that has served the country with unmatched valour during war, peace, and proxy conflicts, the DGP said that since September 1981, as many as 1,804 brave personnel of Punjab Police have made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty, including two bravehearts who attained martyrdom this year alone.
Addressing the gathering, DGP Gaurav Yadav said, “It is because of these brave martyrs that we are breathing in an atmosphere of peace today. Punjab Police has an illustrious legacy of gallantry, selflessness, and iron-willed determination to eradicate militancy. The force remains steadfastly committed to defending our frontiers and preserving communal harmony across the border state.”
A ceremonial Commemoration Parade was held at the Martyrs’ Memorial within the PAP complex, where the names of all martyrs who laid down their lives during the past year were read out by the Commandant. The ceremony was concluded with the observance of a two-minute silence, and the laying of wreaths by senior officers in honour of the fallen heroes.
Interacting with media persons on the sidelines of the ceremony, DGP Gaurav Yadav said that Punjab Police has delivered a decisive blow to drugs. He revealed that over 95,000 cases under the NDPS Act have been registered since March 16, 2022, leading to more than 1,27,000 arrests and the recovery of over 7,260 kg of heroin.
Striking at the economic roots of the narco-trade, the DGP stated that Punjab Police has frozen properties worth ₹902 crore belonging to drug traffickers—marking the highest forfeiture anywhere in the country—alongside securing an unprecedented 90% conviction rate in courts.
Furthermore, sustained anti-gangster operations launched in April 2022 have dismantled as many as 1,288 organized criminal modules and led to the arrest of over 3,300 gang members.
Outlining new strategic frameworks under the ongoing Yudh Nashian Virudh campaign, the DGP revealed that campaign has now transitioned into an intensive 60-day mission mode wherein all designated drug hotspots are being jointly surveillance by senior police officers and Gazetted Officers from the civil administration round-the-clock. He emphasized that the central objective of this multi-pronged approach is to reclaim these vulnerable areas through community outreach and playgrounds for youth.
Emphasizing a whole-of-government approach, the DGP outlined future strategies focused on dismantling financial networks, targeting drug hotspots, modernizing infrastructure with over Rs 1600 crore investment, and bolstering cyber security capacities to effectively suppress criminal syndicates across the state. He further highlighted that the Punjab Police has flagged the critical issue of pharmaceutical drugs being supplied from other states with the DGPs of respective states so that concerted efforts could be made to curtail the unauthorized supply of such banned drugs into Punjab.
Following the parade, DGP Gaurav Yadav personally met the families of police martyrs, patiently listened to their concerns, and assured them that the Punjab Government and the Punjab Police Department remain an unyielding pillar of support for their welfare.
Prominent among those present on the occasion included Special DGsP, several ADGsP, IGsP, DIGs, and senior police officers and officials from across the state.
BOX: HISTORY OF POLICE COMMEMORATION DAY
The tradition of observing Police Commemoration Day dates back to October 21, 1959, when a CRPF patrol led by SI Karam Singh was ambushed by Chinese forces at Hot Springs in Ladakh, resulting in the martyrdom of ten brave jawans. Their supreme sacrifice at 16,000 feet in freezing conditions remains a symbol of extraordinary courage. Since then, October 21 is observed every year across all police units in the country to pay homage to police personnel who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty.