Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid tribute to police personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty on Police Commemoration Day, October 21, at the National Police Memorial in New Delhi. He said their sacrifices had laid the foundation for progress towards a Naxalism-free India and called for a coordinated national campaign to address the drug problem by December 31, 2029.
Addressing the gathering in Chanakyapuri, Shah remembered police personnel who had made the supreme sacrifice in protecting the country’s internal security and borders.
He recalled the events of October 21, 1959, when 10 CRPF personnel lost their lives while fighting an attack by Chinese forces in the Hot Springs area of Ladakh. The date has since been observed annually as Police Commemoration Day.
Shah also paid tribute to 154 personnel added to the list of martyrs this year. He noted that the National Police Memorial, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018, honours personnel who died in service.
Shah highlighted developments in Kashmir, the Northeast and areas affected by Left-wing extremism, describing improvements in security as an opportunity for wider development.
He credited police forces, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and the CoBRA Battalion with playing important roles in countering Naxalism.
According to figures cited by Shah, more than 3,600 security personnel and nearly 13,700 civilians lost their lives in violence linked to Naxalism between 1981 and March 2026.
He also acknowledged CAPF personnel for their work in border security, internal deployments and maintaining security during democratic processes.
The Home Minister called on police forces across the country to work towards the goal of a drug-free India by December 31, 2029.
He said a coordinated campaign covering the remainder of 2026 and the years 2027, 2028 and 2029 would be important to tackling narcotics.
Shah warned that drug abuse harms young people, places pressure on the economy and can provide financial support to organisations involved in anti-national activities. He urged police forces to follow the roadmap prepared for the campaign.
