New Delhi, Oct 21 – Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized the government’s ongoing commitment to combat terrorism, infiltration, and efforts to incite religious tension, despite the relative peace established in Jammu and Kashmir, the Northeast, and Naxal-affected regions. Speaking at a function on Police Commemoration Day, Shah expressed that the sacrifices made by police martyrs will not be forgotten and reaffirmed the nation’s goal to become fully developed by 2047.
“In the past decade, we have achieved relative peace in Jammu and Kashmir, the Northeastern region, and areas affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE). However, our fight continues against challenges such as narcotics, cybercrime, infiltration, and terrorism,” Shah stated.
The Home Minister highlighted that since independence, 36,438 police personnel have lost their lives in service to the nation, including 216 in the past year. He assured the families of these martyrs that their sacrifices would not be in vain and that India would remain safe and resilient in achieving its developmental goals.
Shah also discussed the recent implementation of three new criminal laws, which took effect on July 1. He noted that infrastructure work for these laws commenced five years ago and is expected to be completed within the next three years. “India’s criminal justice system will become one of the most modern in the world, ensuring that full justice can be delivered within three years of an FIR registration,” he asserted.
In addressing the welfare of police personnel, Shah announced that under the ‘Ayushman CAPF’ scheme, police and their families can now receive treatment at any Ayushman hospital. He also mentioned the approval for the construction of 13,000 houses to improve living conditions for Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel, with 11,276 homes expected to be ready by March next year.
The Police Commemoration Day event took place at the National Police Memorial, where Shah paid floral tributes to the police personnel who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. He reflected on the tragic event of October 21, 1959, when ten policemen were ambushed and killed by heavily armed Chinese troops at Hot Springs in Ladakh, a moment that led to the annual observance of this day to honor the martyrs and all police personnel who have fallen while serving the nation.
