Rich tribute was paid to the brave policemen who laid down their lives in the line of duty while observing Police Commemoration Day on October 21 at Police Line, Choglamsar.

On October 21, 1959, twenty Indian soldiers were attacked by the heavily Armed Chinese troops in Hot Spring Ladakh and 10 valiant Policemen were martyred while defending the integrity of our motherland seven others were also imprisoned and later managed to escape from Chinese troops. On November 28, 1959, the Chinese troops handed over the dead bodies of martyred Policemen to India and their cremation was held with honour at the Hot springs located near Tsogtsalu, an extreme Indo-China Border in Eastern Ladakh. Since then October 21, celebrated as Police Commemoration Day in remembrance of the martyrs of police personnel all over India who attained martyrdom while on duty.

Advisor Dr. Pawan Kotwal addressed the audience with a brief history of the event and how challenging it was in the year 1959, in the month of October, at a height of around 16000 ft to cross the Martsimik La, going down reaching the hot spring and establishing a police post.  

He said that since 1962 this day celebrated as Police Commemoration Day, Police Flag Day and from the 21st onwards for another 10 days Rashtra Ekta Diwas/sapta is celebrated. 

He stated, “In Ladakh, we are trying to strengthen our police, by increasing the number, modernizing it, and trying to increase our footprint so that whenever any challenge comes we rise up to the occasion and protect not our internal security, law, and order but would also support our main strike force that is Army whenever required”.

ADGP, Ladakh Police Dr. S.D Singh Jamwal recited the names of 188 brave officers and men of 2022-23 who laid down their lives in the line of duty. 

A blood donation camp was also set up with a blood bank team from SNM Hospital Leh.