383 policemen martyred in past year

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 21

Listing the names of police personnel who laid down their lives in the line of duty this year, Rajiv Jain, Director, Intelligence Bureau (IB), today said that out of the 383 martyrs, 56 belonged to the BSF and 42 were from Jammu and Kashmir.

Announcing the names of those who were martyred across the country from September 2016 to August 2017 at a function here to mark Police Commemoration Day, Jain said 76 belonged to the Uttar Pradesh Police, 56 to the BSF, 49 were from the CRPF, 42 from Jammu and Kashmir Police, 23 belonged to Chhattisgarh, 16 were from West Bengal, 13 each belonged to Delhi and the CISF, 12 each were from Bihar and Karnataka and 11 from the ITBP.

The function was chaired by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who led the nation in paying tributes to the martyrs.

The majority of police personnel were killed while dealing with cross-border firing from Pakistan, fighting militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, Naxals and other law and order duties.

According to an official release issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the day is observed to pay homage to 10 policemen killed in firing by Chinese troops in 1959 and 34,400 others who laid down their lives protecting India’s unity and integrity.

SUBHEAD: That day in 1959

The Indian police personnel were responsible for manning the 2,500 mile-long Indian border with Tibet till the autumn of 1959. On October 20, 1959, three reconnaissance parties were launched from Hot Springs in north-eastern Ladakh in preparation for further movement of an Indian expedition which was on its way to Lanak La.

While members of two parties returned to Hot Springs, the third one — comprising two police constables and a porter — did not return, the statement said.

The remaining forces were mobilised next morning to search for the missing personnel.

A party of about 20 police personnel led by Karam Singh, a Deputy Central Intelligence Officer (DCIO) rank officer, proceeded on horseback while others followed on foot in three sections. At mid-day, Chinese Army personnel, who were seen on a hillock, opened fire and threw grenades at the Indian party, the statement added.

As there was no cover, most personnel were injured. Ten bravehearts were killed and seven others sustained injuries in the incident. The bodies of the 10 personnel were returned by the Chinese on November 13, three weeks after the incident. The bodies were then cremated with full police honours at Hot Springs in Ladakh.