New Delhi:Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday led the nation in paying tributes to police personnel who laid down their lives in the line of duty, while Union Home Minister Amit Shah called upon police forces across the country to work collectively towards making India drug-free by December 31, 2029, describing the fight against narcotics as a major national priority.
The leaders paid homage to police martyrs on the occasion of Police Commemoration Day, observed annually on October 21 in memory of 10 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel killed in an ambush by Chinese troops at Hot Springs in Ladakh in 1959.
In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi expressed gratitude to police personnel for their dedication and service under challenging circumstances, saying their contribution to maintaining law and order, combating crime, responding to emergencies and ensuring public safety remained invaluable.
“Police Commemoration Day is an occasion to express our deepest gratitude to our police personnel, who serve with remarkable commitment, often in the most challenging circumstances,” the Prime Minister said.
Paying solemn tributes to those who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty, Modi said their courage, unwavering dedication and supreme sacrifice would forever remain etched in the nation’s memory.
Meanwhile, addressing the annual commemoration ceremony at the National Police Memorial in New Delhi, Home Minister Amit Shah said Prime Minister Modi had set December 31, 2029, as the deadline for making India drug-free and urged all police organisations to work in coordination to achieve the target.
Shah said the remaining months of 2026, along with 2027, 2028 and 2029, must be devoted to a united campaign against narcotics, warning that drug trafficking and substance abuse posed serious threats to the country’s youth, economy and national security.
He said narcotics not only endangered future generations but also placed an undue burden on the economy and provided financial support to organisations involved in anti-national activities.
The Home Minister stressed that eliminating the drug menace was essential to protecting the country’s future generations and called upon police forces across states and Union Territories, along with Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), to intensify their efforts towards achieving the national objective.
As part of the campaign, Shah flagged off a motorcycle rally themed “Fight Against Drugs”, involving around 90 police riders representing different states, Union Territories, CAPFs and other central police organisations.
The riders will travel from different parts of the country to Ekta Nagar in Gujarat, where they are scheduled to participate in the Ekta Parade on October 31, according to an official statement.
Highlighting achievements in internal security, Shah said peace had been established in three major regions that had witnessed prolonged unrest — Kashmir, the Northeast and areas affected by Left-Wing Extremism.
He said significant success had been achieved in curbing terrorism in Kashmir, while the Northeast had moved towards peace following several agreements and the surrender of arms by thousands of people.
The Home Minister said these developments had created an environment conducive to development, allowing the regions to move forward and compete with other parts of the country in terms of economic and social progress.
Referring to the fight against Naxalism, Shah said the country had succeeded in eliminating decades of Naxalism by March 31, 2026, and credited the Chhattisgarh Police, CRPF, its specialised CoBRA battalions and other Central Armed Police Forces for their contribution.
He said more than 3,600 security personnel and approximately 13,700 civilians had lost their lives in violence associated with Naxalism between 1981 and March 2026.
Shah praised the security forces for their sustained operations and sacrifices in combating insurgency, saying their commitment had played a decisive role in improving the internal security situation.
The Home Minister also highlighted the contribution of CAPF personnel in maintaining peace during elections, festivals, protests and other major public events, besides performing border security duties.
He said security personnel often remained away from their families for extended periods while safeguarding the country’s internal security and ensuring the safety of citizens.
Referring to electoral violence, Shah said India had succeeded in eliminating such violence in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, while West Bengal had continued to witness incidents for a long period.
He claimed that security personnel had achieved a significant success by ensuring that the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections were completed without a single fatality, establishing a new benchmark for peaceful elections.
Shah said the efforts of Central Armed Police Forces demonstrated their ability to maintain law and order even under challenging circumstances.
Earlier, Director of the Intelligence Bureau Mahesh Dixit informed the gathering that 154 police personnel had laid down their lives in the line of duty during the past year, while 36,852 police personnel had made the supreme sacrifice since Independence.
Dixit said that, following a recommendation made by Prime Minister Modi during the Directors General of Police conference, CAPFs and Central Police Organisations would organise various commemorative programmes at the National Police Memorial from October 22 to 30.
Similar programmes would also be organised by police forces across the country during the period to honour personnel who sacrificed their lives in service of the nation.
Recalling the historic significance of Police Commemoration Day, Shah said the bravery displayed by police personnel during the October 21, 1959, incident at Hot Springs in Ladakh remained an enduring example of courage and patriotism.
He said the personnel had stood firm against heavily armed Chinese troops despite the difficult high-altitude terrain and overwhelming odds.
“Yet, these immortal heroes remained steadfast in their resolve that not even an inch of the country’s land should fall into foreign hands, making the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty,” Shah said.
He recalled that October 21 had since been observed annually as Police Commemoration Day to honour the sacrifices of police personnel across the country.
The Home Minister also referred to the National Police Memorial, inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi in 2018, saying it stood as a permanent tribute to the courage and sacrifice of personnel who had laid down their lives while protecting the nation.
Addressing the families of police martyrs, Shah said no compensation could make up for their loss, but the entire nation remained indebted to them for the sacrifices made by their loved ones.
He said the country’s 1.4 billion citizens would always remain grateful to the families of police personnel who had sacrificed their lives while safeguarding internal security and protecting the borders.
“No one can even imagine where we would stand today if these personnel had not made the supreme sacrifice to safeguard the country’s internal security and protect its borders,” Shah said.
