Nagpur Police Commemorate 216 Officers on Police Martyrs' Day
Nagpur, India: On October 21, India commemorates Police Martyrs' Day, honouring the bravery and sacrifices of police personnel who laid down their lives in the line of duty. The day marks the anniversary of the 1959 Hot Springs incident in Ladakh, where 10 officers from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) lost their lives defending India's border.
On this day, the Nagpur City Police, along with other units, held a tribute event at the Nagpur Police Headquarters. The event was attended by senior officials, including Police Commissioner Ravindra Kumar Singhal, who laid wreaths at the memorial. This year, 216 police officers who lost their lives while on duty were honoured, with the entire nation paying tribute to their courage and dedication.
The incident took place in Ladakh, near the India-China border, at an altitude of 16,000 feet in freezing temperatures. A patrol team, led by Deputy Inspector Karan Singh, was conducting a routine border patrol when they encountered suspicious movements. As the team prepared to take cover, they were ambushed by Chinese troops who opened fire. Despite being heavily outnumbered and low on ammunition, the Indian police officers fought valiantly. All 10 officers made the ultimate sacrifice in the battle.
The martyrs of that day include Dharam Singh, Puran Singh, Narbu Lama, Begraj Mal, Makhan Lal, Iman Singh, Tsering Bokhu Narbu, Hangjit Subba, and Shivnath Pratap. Their sacrifice is remembered not only by the police forces but by the entire nation. In 1959, the news of the ambush spread sorrow across India, leading to an official day of mourning during the Diwali festival that year.
On November 13, 1959, China returned the bodies of the 10 officers, and they were given a state funeral at Hot Springs with full military honours. A memorial was later built at the site, inscribed: "Tell them, when you go home, that for their tomorrow, we gave our today."
Since then, October 21 has been observed as Police Martyrs' Day across India. On this day, the names of police officers who have died in the line of duty throughout the year are read aloud as a mark of respect. Police forces hold memorial parades, fire ceremonial gun salutes, and observe two minutes of silence to honour the fallen.
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