Liaquat Ali Choudhary
On October 20, 1959, three reconnaissance parties were launched from Hot Springs in North Eastern Ladakh. This was 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 by the afternoon of that day, the third one comprising of two Police Constables and a Porter did not return. All available personnel were mobilized early next morning in search of the missing personnel. This team was led by DSP / DCIO Karam Singh. At about mid day, Chinese Army personnel were seen on a hillock which opened fire and threw grenades at the party led by Karam Singh. Since there was no cover, most personnel were injured. Ten of our brave Police Personnel attained martyrdom and seven others sustained injuries. The seven injured were taken prisoners by the Chinese. Bodies of the ten personnel were returned by the Chinese only on November 13, 1959, a full three weeks after the incident. These bodies were cremated with full Police honors at Hot Springs. The Annual Conference of Inspectors General of Police of States and Union Territories held in January 1960 decided that October 21 would henceforth be observed as ‘Commemoration Day / Martyr’s Day’. It was also decided to erect a memorial at Hot Springs and every year members of Police Forces from different parts of the country trek to Hot Springs to pay homage to those gallant martyrs.
Hot Springs Martyrs Memorial: DSP Karam Singh of the ITBF and the Memorial for the Policemen killed during the fighting on the 21st of October 1959 still exists and serves as a pilgrimage visited every year by the Policemen across the country.
National Police Memorial: A National Police Memorial at Chanakyapuri, New Delhi stands as a testimony of the sacrifices made by countless policemen in the performance of their duty. The Memorial gives police Forces a sense of national identity, pride, unity of purpose, common history and destiny. “The Wall of Valour” – 30 feet tall granite sculpture stands at the police memorial with the names of over 35000 martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty and reminds of their valor and glory.
National Police Museum: A National Police Museum depicts the history, artifacts, Police related gazette notifications, unique weapons and uniforms of Central and State Police forces. It is a National level permanent exhibition on policing subjects. A section of the museum will be dedicated to the memory of the Police Martyrs from the various Police forces of the country. The arms are reversed (Shok Shastra) and two minutes silence is observed in honor of the departed souls. The names of police martyrs of different states/UTs, and paramilitary forces are read out, to acknowledge with pride the supreme sacrifices made by them. Three volleys of shots are fired as a mark of respect for the martyrs.
Jammu & Kashmir Police: The history of J&K Police has been a saga of indomitable courage, unflinching devotion to duty and supreme sacrifice by its officers and men. JKP has always been at the forefront in the national struggle to defend the integrity of India. Jammu and Kashmir has a glorious past at its back on all realms of policing. This elite police force, which is the pride of country’s police forces, has the distinction of not only maintaining the internal law & order but taking on the external aggression of Pakistan sponsored terrorism, with its full might, beyond its expectations and capabilities. The history of Jammu and Kashmir Police is a history of gallantry, sacrifice and innumerable achievements. Jammu and Kashmir witnessed the worst kind of terrorism during the last two decades. It is to the credit of men and officers of this valiant force, that it has been successful in eliminating terrorism to a large extent, an achievement with few parallels anywhere in the world, where terrorism of such a magnitude has erupted. The Police leadership of the day led the force form the front with heroism, patriotism and devotion. It is because of the sacrifices of hundreds of JKP men and women that we have an atmosphere of peace, security and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir once again.
In 1989, SHO Kothibagh Inspector Saidullah became the first Police Martyr. Year 1990 saw an upheaval in Kashmir in which J&K Police was the only visible face of the State that was called upon to deliver on multiple fronts. Thirty Two years of continuous fighting against Pakistan sponsored terror by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and security forces has resulted in a sharp decline in militancy but J&K Police has had to face a bigger challenge to establish peace and tranquility in Jammu and Kashmir, J&K Police had to pay a heavy price of blood and sweat along with other sister agencies operating shoulder to shoulder on the ground while fighting with stone pelting mobs. During all the turbulent times right from the Pakistan tribal invasion in 1948, Jammu and Kashmir Police has always risen to the occasion and its men in uniform irrespective of its rank and file have offered supreme sacrifices to uphold the territorial integrity of the nation. Since, 1989, 1604 men in uniform from all ranks ranging from DIG to SPO have laid down their lives in the line of duty. The nation has always recognized the supreme sacrifice of J&K Police in maintaining the law and order and upholding the integrity of the country. In recognition of the supreme sacrifices given by men in uniform of J&K Police, the successive Governments at Union/State levels have bestowed upon highest Gallantry awards on this elite force. J&K Police has been bestowed with huge number of medals among its counterparts in the country. Since 1954 to 1987, a total 12 Presidents Police Medals for Gallantry and 35 Police Medals for Gallantry were conferred upon the members of J&K Police, and since 1989 onwards 1 Ashoka Chakra, 2 Kirti Chakras, 18 of Shaurya Chakra, 1626 Presidents Police Medal for Gallantry and 1822 Police Medal for Gallantry have been conferred upon the members of Jammu and Kashmir Police, so far which in itself narrates the tale of sacrifice offered by J&K Police in maintaining law & order & upholding the territorial integrity of India.
Jammu and Kashmir Police salutes the memory of its gallant men with pride. Those men who personified the will of the force and sacrificed their lives while demonstrating unquestioning dedication to duty, those men who fell besides their comrades in the fight against terror to preserve the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country and those men who furthered the noble ideal of ‘service before self’ at the cost of their lives. J&K Police is proud that these men of substance, without caring for their personal safety, security, convenience or comfort came forward to fight valiantly and vanished to yonder horizon where all of their kinds shine like stars, beckoning their comrades to continue to tread on their footsteps so that the good always triumphs over evil. The martyrs have conferred upon the entire organization a halo of invincibility, imperturbability, honor and dignity. Jammu and Kashmir Police along with the rest of the country observes 21, October as Police Commemoration day also known as National Police Day. The day commemorates the sacrifices of ten policemen who sacrificed their life while defending our borders with China in 1959. Various Schools, Roads, Buildings have been renamed for paying tribute to Martyrs by the Government. Some among the several JK Police Martyrs include martyr DIG Mohd Amin Bhat, martyr DySP Mohammad Ayoub Pandith, martyr DySP Aman Thakur, martyr DySP Manjit Singh,martyr Altaf Ahmad Dar, martyr Inspector Arshid Khan, martyr Inspr Feroz Ahmad Dar etc.
Ashok Chakra Awardee: Assistant Sub Inspector Babu Ram born on 1972 in Dharana District Poonch joined Police Service in year 1999 as Constable. On 27th July 2002 he was assigned to Special Operation Group (SOG) in Srinagar. He participated in (14) encounters in which 28 terrorists were killed. He got three special promotions. On 29th August 2020, ASI Babu Ram attained martyrdom in action against terrorists at Panthachowk Srinagar. The encounter ended with the killing of three hard core terrorists. On 15th August 2022 (the 75th Independence Day), he was awarded Ashok Chakra by the President of India (Posthumous) in recognition of his exemplary bravery and commitment towards his duties.
Kirti Chakra Awardee: Constable Altaf Hussain Bhat hailing from Rathpora Safakadal Srinagar joined J&K Police on 17th September 2011. He was posted in District Ganderbal and was deputed with a protected person as PSO. On 6th October 2020, the protected person visited his family at Nunner Ganderbal where terrorists suddenly attacked him, in retaliation the brave heart PSO killed the terrorists on spot, thus saved the life of the protectee, during retaliation, he got some bullet injuries due to which he attained martyrdom at SKIMS Soura. In reorganization of his utmost dedication, devotion, sincerity and sacrifice the President of India Ram Nath Kovind decorated him with Kirti Chakra, the 2nd highest peace Time Gallantry (Posthumously) at defense Investiture ceremony 2022 at Rashtrapati Bhawan New Delhi.
Shaurya Chakra Awardee: Shahbaz Ahmad from Hayatpora village of district Rajouri was engaged in J&K Police as SPO in the year 2017. He remained always a part of Anti-insurgency operations. On 21st January 2020, shahbaz Ahmad attained Martyrdom in an action against terrorists at Khrew Pampore. The encounter ended after three days with the result of killing of three hard core terrorists. On August 15, 2021 SPO Shahbaz Ahmad was awarded Shaurya Chakra by the President of India Ram Nath Kovind (Posthumously) for his supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.
