On October 21, 1959, ten Policemen laid down their lives while defending the integrity of our motherland at Hot Spring (Ladakh) in an ambush laid by heavily armed Chinese troops, who had violated Indian territory in Aksai Chin., In 1960, during IGsP/DGsP Conference, heads of all Police Organisations of India decided to observe the 21st October as Police Commemoration Day in the memory of these ten gallant martyrs.
To honour the Police personnel who sacrificed their lives, it was decided in 1994 to construct a National Police Memorial (NPM) in Delhi. In 2002, Ministry of Urban Development allotted a piece of land measuring 6.12 acres at Chanakyapuri and the foundation stone of the project was laid by Shri LK Advani, the then Home Minister on December 13, 2002. However, due to variety of reasons including procedural delays, regulatory approvals and the directions of the Delhi High Court regarding symmetry and the sanctity of the skyline of Lutyens Zone, the construction of the Memorial was delayed and had to be called off in July 2004 on direction of the High court which found the structure interfering with the symmetry of Lutyens Zone and the view of Rashtrapati Bhawan dome.
Union Finance Minister in Budget 2014-15, made provision of Rs. 50 Cr. for construction of a befitting NPM at New Delhi. The work of construction including setting up of the Wall of Valour, Central Sculpture and a Police Museum was entrusted to NBCC. This work was completed in October 2018.
In a sombre ceremony held on October 21, 2018, Hon’ble Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi paid homage to the valiant Policemen who laid down their lives while defending the integrity of our motherland by laying a wreath and remembered the brave Policemen who made the supreme sacrifice. He also dedicated the newly constructed National Police Memorial at Chanakyapuri, New Delhi to the nation in recognition of the sacrifices made by Police personnel since Independence and their paramount role in preserving national security and integrity.
The NPM comprises a Central Sculpture, the Wall of Valour and a Museum.
The Central Sculpture stands for the strength, resilience and selfless service, which characterize the life of a policeman. The cenotaph is a vertical thirty feet monolith of black granite, weighing 238 tonnes. Its weight and colour symbolize the gravitas and solemnity of the supreme sacrifices made by Policemen. Sixty feet long river flowing at the base of the Sculpture reflects the continuous selfless service rendered by Policemen to hold together the fabric of Society.
The Wall of Valour at NPM on which the names of the martyrs are inscribed stands as a silent acknowledgement of the bravery and sacrifice of Police personnel, who have laid down their lives in the line of duty since Independence.
The Museum is dedicated to the memory of the martyred Police personnel. It is conceptualized as a historical and evolving exhibition on policing, while taking the visitor through the journey of Police personnel from pledge to eternity. The dedication of NPM and inauguration of the Police Museum is a milestone in the history of Indian Police. The Memorial is a site of pilgrimage, a place of reverence for Policemen and countrymen alike. It will strengthen the bonds between the Police and community and propel us to pursue the highest standards in our professional and personal life.
