On 21st October every year, commemoration Parades are held in all police units as a mark of respect to brave police martyrs, who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. The arms are reversed and two minutes silence is observed in the honour of the departed souls. The names of police martyrs of states, police and paramilitary forces are read out, to acknowledge with pride the supreme sacrifices made by them. The history of commemoration day traces back to 21st October 1959, when a patrol party of CRPF, led by SI Karam Singh, was ambushed by the Chinese forces at Hot Springs ladakh and 10 jawans were killed, the bravery and resultant sacrifice of jawans fighting at 16,000 ft. altitude, in extremely cold conditions and against all odds, is an epitome of the rarest of the rare courage Indo-Tibetan Border Police sends a representative party of all police forces, of the country, to Hot springs, Ladakh every year to pay homage to the martyrs who laid down their lives on 21st Oct, 1959 while guarding national frontiers.


Punjab Police has been called upon to perform multifarious duties in various parts of the country. After independence, Punjab Police protected Indo-Pak Border as well as Indo-Chinese Border before ITBP & BSF came into being. Punjab Police is also sent for internal security duty to many terrorism affected states at a very short notice. Sardar Vallabh Bhgai Patel, the first Home Minister of India made the following observations about Punjab Police:


"I know the difficulties and disaster which overtook the Punjab Police during the period of partition. Your force was depleted terribly and quickly you had to begin from a scratch. …..After such a partition and the period of communal disturbances a parallel of which is not known, you had to face great difficulties and you have in fact performed miracle in reorganizing your force in such a short time and in such a splendid manner".


The history of Punjab Police is a history of gallantry, sacrifice and innumerable achievements. Punjab has a 556 kilometers long international border with Pakistan and witnessed the worst phase of militancy which lasted over a decade. It is to the credit of men and officers of the valiant force, that we could eliminate terrorism, from its roots, an example unmatched in any corner of the world, where terrorism of such a magnitude has erupted.


The Police leadership of the day motivated the force to challenge and end the reign of militancy with heroism, patriotism and devotion. It is because of the ongoing sacrifices of thousands of our men and women that we continue to enjoy an atmosphere of peace, security and prosperity in the State. Today once again we respectfully remember their sacrifices and salute our real life heroes of Punjab Police.