On October 21, 1959, as many as 10 policemen made the supreme sacrifice while protecting our border with China. National Police Day or Police Commemoration Day is celebrated every year on 21 October in honour of the sacrifice of those policemen. 

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Indo-Tibetan border

A company of the 3rd Battalion was stationed at Hot Springs in North Eastern Ladakh on October 20, 1959. The company was entrusted with the responsibility of guarding, monitoring and the border by dividing it into three units.

The members of the two detachments that went further to patrol the border returned by noon that day. But the members of the third detachment did not return.

The contingent consisted of two police constables and a porter.  The next day all the jawans were assembled and a detachment was formed to search for the missing people. 

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 Chinese soldiers attack

The contingent led by DCIO Karam Singh left on October 21, 1959 in search of the missing policemen. About 20 policemen were involved in that contingent. Karm Singh was riding a horse while the rest of the policemen were on foot.

The infantrymen were divided into 3 units. In the afternoon, Chinese soldiers started firing and throwing grenades from a hill.  Most of the soldiers were injured as the policemen went with no way of protecting themselves.   

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In that attack 10 of our brave policemen were martyred while seven others were injured.  Seven injured policemen were taken captive by Chinese soldiers while other policemen managed to escape.

The bodies of ten policemen who were martyred on November 13, 1959 were returned by Chinese soldiers. The last rites of those policemen took place in Hot Springs with full police honours.

 Decision to celebrate Police Commemoration Day

In January 1960, the annual conference of Inspectors General of Police of the States and Union Territories was held.  In that conference a decision was taken to honour the brave policemen who were martyred in Ladakh and other policemen who lost their lives on duty during the year.

 It was decided to celebrate ‘Police Commemoration Day’ on 21 October every year in  honour of those martyrs policemen.