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Police Commemoration Day 2026: Amit Shah honours fallen personnel, says India is free of Naxalism

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India marked Police Commemoration Day on 21 October 2026 as Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid tribute at the National Police Memorial in New Delhi to police personnel who died in the line of duty, the Ministry of Home Affairs said through PIB. He also flagged off a nationwide motorcycle rally carrying the message “Fight against Drugs”.

Police Commemoration Day: Guests and officials at the Police Commemoration Day programme at Rashtriya Raksha University, Gandhinagar
Guests and officials at the Police Commemoration Day programme at Rashtriya Raksha University, Gandhinagar Photo: PIB (Government of India, free to use with credit).

Amit Shah at the National Police Memorial

Shah said the sacrifices of police personnel were the foundation of the respect India enjoys in the world today. He called 2026 an extremely significant year for the Indian police and said the country had achieved freedom from Naxalism on 31 March 2026. Between 1981 and March 2026, more than 3,600 security personnel were martyred and nearly 13,700 civilians lost their lives because of Naxal violence, he said. Speaking to the families of the fallen, he said their loss could never be compensated but the nation of 1.4 billion people remained grateful. Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Intelligence Bureau Director Mahesh Dixit and the chiefs of the Central Armed Police Forces attended the ceremony.

Key Facts

  • Date: 21 October 2026
  • Main event: National Police Memorial, New Delhi
  • Origin: Hot Springs, Ladakh, 21 October 1959 (10 CRPF personnel)
  • Memorial honours: 36,852 police personnel
  • Rally flagged off: “Fight against Drugs” motorcycle rally

“Their courage, unwavering dedication and supreme sacrifice will forever remain etched in our nation's memory.”

— Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on X (via PIB)

Why 21 October: the Hot Springs story

Shah recalled that on 21 October 1959, 10 CRPF personnel laid down their lives resisting an attack by Chinese troops in the Hot Springs area of Ladakh, and the day has been observed every year since. The National Police Memorial was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018, and citizens now visit it to honour 36,852 police personnel, the minister said. He described police as the first and last line of defence for internal security and thanked CAPF personnel for duties during elections, festivals and on the borders. He also said security forces had completed the recent West Bengal Assembly elections without a single fatality. Prime Minister Modi, in a post on X, said police personnel serve with remarkable commitment, from maintaining law and order to responding to emergencies.

Officials on stage at the Rashtriya Raksha University commemoration in Gandhinagar
Officials on stage at the Rashtriya Raksha University commemoration in Gandhinagar Photo: PIB (Government of India, free to use with credit).

Police Commemoration Day at Rashtriya Raksha University and in the states

At Rashtriya Raksha University in Gandhinagar, Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat was chief guest at a commemoration, PIB Ahmedabad said. He inaugurated a Police Martyrs’ Wall, a Physical Training and Adventure Wall and the Dronacharya Firing Simulator Lab, and virtually launched a Gujarat Police Martyrs’ Dashboard. Vice-Chancellor Bimal N. Patel gave the welcome address. In Jaipur, Rajasthan Police held its own ceremony at the Rajasthan Police Academy, the state’s DIPR reported. Police forces across the country observe the day each year with wreath-laying and tributes to colleagues killed on duty. Rajasthan’s DGP said 154 police personnel across India died on duty between 1 September 2025 and 31 August 2026.

Why It Matters: The day is the main national tribute to police and CAPF personnel killed on duty. This year the government tied it to its claim of ending Naxal violence and to a new anti-drug campaign.

Also on TrendDesh: Rajasthan Police starts 'Positive Behaviour in Policing' training to change how stations treat people · Rajnath Singh warns of white-collar terrorism and lone-wolf attacks at Defence Conclave

Source: PIB (Ministry of Home Affairs), 21 Oct 2026 · PIB (Prime Minister's Office), 21 Oct 2026 · PIB Ahmedabad (Rashtriya Raksha University), 21 Oct 2026 · DIPR Rajasthan, 21 Oct 2026

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