Amit Shah Commemorates Police Martyrs as India Celebrates Freedom from Naxalism

New Delhi, October 21 (Daily Kiran) : On October 21, 2026, Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid tribute to police martyrs at the National Police Memorial in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, during the observance of Police Commemoration Day. Speaking to the gathered audience, he honored the sacrifices made by police personnel over the years.

Amit Shah expressed, “It is a privilege to be here on Police Commemoration Day at the National Police Memorial. We gather today to pay homage to the brave police officers who have given their utmost sacrifice for the nation since independence. Over the past eight decades, our country has established a respectable position in the world, built on the sacrifices of our courageous personnel. It is unimaginable where we would stand today without their supreme sacrifices in safeguarding internal security and our borders.”

The Home Minister highlighted that 2026 marks a significant milestone for Indian policing, noting that on March 31, India achieved freedom from the long-standing issue of Naxalism. From 1981 to March 2026, the nation faced the Naxalite challenge, resulting in the deaths of over 3,600 soldiers and nearly 13,700 innocent civilians. He emphasized, “Today, as we commemorate Police Martyrs Day, I pay heartfelt tribute to all those brave soldiers. Their sacrifices have laid the foundation for the country’s development, and the entire nation expresses gratitude to them and their families.”

Shah also recounted the history of Police Commemoration Day, which is observed annually on October 21. This date honors the sacrifice of ten CRPF soldiers who bravely fought against a Chinese army attack in the challenging terrain of Hot Springs, Ladakh, in 1965. “Studying that incident reveals the arduous conditions they faced. Nevertheless, those immortal souls fought to ensure that not an inch of our land fell into foreign hands,” he remarked.

In 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the National Police Memorial at the same location to honor police martyrs nationwide. Shah noted that this memorial serves as a source of inspiration for future generations of police personnel to remain vigilant and ready to fulfill their duties, even at the cost of their lives. It has also become a symbol of reverence and gratitude for citizens, who come to pay respects to the 36,852 police officers honored there. This year, the names of 154 brave officers were added to the memorial, with IB chief Mahesh reading their names as a tribute.