Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid tribute to all the policemen who were martyred in the line of duty on the occasion of Police Smriti Diwas. Expressing gratitude for the sacrifices of police personnel for the nation on Monday, Shah said that this is an occasion to honour the immense sacrifices made by police personnel and their families in keeping India safe. Amit Shah also paid tribute to the martyred policemen of the country on social media. 

Amit Shah wrote on the social media platform 'X', "On the occasion of Police Commemoration Day, I salute the martyrs who made the supreme sacrifice and were martyred in the line of duty while performing their duties." 

Why is this day celebrated only on 21 October

On 21 October 1959, heavily armed Chinese soldiers ambushed a police force in 'Hot Springs' in Ladakh. In this attack, 10 policemen were martyred in the line of duty. Since then, 'Police Memorial Day' is celebrated every year on 21 October to honour these martyrs and all other police personnel who have been martyred in the line of duty. 

More than 36 thousand policemen have given the supreme sacrifice

On the occasion of Police Memorial Day in the year 2023, Home Minister Amit Shah had informed that 36,250 policemen have made the supreme sacrifice while serving the country since independence. During this, he also informed that from September 1, 2022 to August 31, 2023, 188 policemen have made the supreme sacrifice while on duty to maintain security and law and order in the country.