Srinagar, Oct 21: The Jammu & Kashmir Police on Wednesday paid tribute to its personnel who laid down their lives in the line of duty, as Police Commemoration Day was observed across the Kashmir Valley through wreath-laying ceremonies, blood donation camps, sports activities and interactions with families of martyrs.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the observances were held across all districts, where senior police officers, civil administration officials, Army and CRPF personnel and family members of the fallen personnel gathered to honour their sacrifice.
The ceremonies featured floral tributes at martyrs’ memorials, two minutes of silence and the reading of the roll of honour of police personnel who attained martyrdom while serving the nation. Gifts were distributed among the next of kin (NoKs) of martyrs, while interactive sessions were held to address their concerns and reaffirm the department’s commitment to their welfare.
In Anantnag, the ceremony at District Police Lines (DPL) was attended by DIG South Kashmir Range Javed Iqbal Matoo, SSP Anantnag Amod Ashok Nagpure, Deputy Commissioner Bilal Mohi-ud-Din and officers of the police, Army, CRPF and civil administration, besides martyrs’ families. A blood donation camp was also organised.
In Kulgam, Deputy Commissioner Shahzad Alam and SSP Anayat Ali Chowdhary, along with senior security officers, police personnel and martyrs’ families, paid floral tributes at the Martyrs’ Monument at DPL Kulgam.
At Awantipora, SSP Irshad H. Rather led the tributes in the presence of police and CRPF officers, civil administration officials, members of civil society, retired police personnel and family members of martyrs.
In Shopian, SSP Mushtaq Ahmad Choudhary, along with senior Army and CRPF officers, district police personnel and martyrs’ families, paid homage at the Martyrs’ Monument at DPL Shopian.
In Pulwama, Deputy Commissioner K.K. Sidha and SSP Sahil Sarangal led the ceremony by laying a wreath at the Martyrs’ Memorial. A Police Martyrs’ Memorial Volleyball Tournament was also inaugurated to promote sportsmanship and constructive engagement among youth.
In Ganderbal, SSP Harshal Rajesh Mahajan chaired the ceremony at Qamariya Stadium, where senior police officers, civil administration officials and family members of martyrs paid floral tributes.
In Budgam, the observance was held at District Police Lines under the supervision of SSP Hariprasad K K, with Deputy Commissioner Jatin Kishore also present.
In Baramulla, the ceremony at DPL was attended by the DIG North Kashmir Range, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, SSP Baramulla, senior Army and Central Armed Police Forces officers, and families of police martyrs.
In Bandipora, Deputy Commissioner Indu Kanwal Chib attended the main ceremony at DPL Bandipora along with SSP Tahir Saleem, the Commandant of 45 Battalion CRPF and other senior officers. Families of the martyrs also participated in the observance.
In Kupwara, SSP Sudhanshu Dhama interacted with the next of kin of police martyrs during the ceremony at DPL Kupwara and reaffirmed the department’s commitment to their welfare and dignity. A volleyball tournament was inaugurated and a plantation drive launched.
In Handwara, SSP Sajjad Khaliq Bhat led the tributes at DPL Handwara and assured martyrs’ families of all possible assistance. A blood donation camp was organised in collaboration with Government Medical College Handwara.
In Sopore, SSP Neha Jain laid a floral wreath at the Martyrs’ Memorial in the presence of senior Army and CRPF officers, police personnel, civil society members and martyrs’ families. The families were felicitated, and a volleyball tournament was organised at DPL Sopore.
Police Commemoration Day is observed annually on October 21 in memory of 10 CRPF personnel martyred in an ambush by heavily armed Chinese troops at Hot Springs in Ladakh on October 21, 1959. The day honours police personnel who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. (KNO)
