Cuttack: Remembering police personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of the nation, the Odisha Police observed the 67th Police Commemoration Day at the State Police Headquarters in Cuttack on Wednesday. DGP-in-Charge Vinaytosh Mishra paid tribute to the martyrs and called on the force to strengthen its professional capabilities and public trust while tackling emerging security challenges.
The ceremony began with Mishra laying floral tributes to the fallen personnel. A ceremonial salute with reversed arms was presented, followed by two minutes of silence in their memory.
Addressing police officers and personnel, Mishra recalled the sacrifice of 10 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel who were killed in an encounter with Chinese troops in Ladakh on October 21, 1959. Their sacrifice led to the annual observance of Police Commemoration Day across the country.
He said 154 personnel from various state police forces and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) had lost their lives in the line of duty during the current year. Their courage and dedication, he said, remained a source of inspiration for the entire police fraternity.
Odisha Personnel Remembered for Anti-Maoist Operations
Mishra paid special tribute to Odisha Police personnel and paramilitary force members who lost their lives during anti-Maoist operations in the state. Their efforts, he said, had contributed significantly to curbing Maoist violence and restoring peace in affected areas.
He also recognised the hardships faced by the families of personnel killed in the line of duty and acknowledged their strength and resilience.
Highlighting the changing nature of policing, Mishra said the force was now required to deal with a broad range of challenges beyond traditional crime prevention. These include terrorism, Maoist extremism, organised crime, cybercrime, drug trafficking, crimes against women and children, traffic management and the maintenance of law and order.
He stressed that modern technology, regular training and stronger operational preparedness were essential to improving the effectiveness of the police force.
Urging personnel to discharge their responsibilities with honesty, courage and dedication, the DGP called for collective efforts to make Odisha safer and more peaceful.
BSF Records Highest Number of Fatalities Among Central Forces
Data presented during the programme showed that 154 personnel from state police forces and central security organisations had died in the line of duty during the year.
Among state police forces, Madhya Pradesh recorded nine fatalities, while Bihar, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh reported six each. Rajasthan and West Bengal recorded five fatalities each. Personnel from several other states and Union Territories were also among those who lost their lives.
Among central forces, the Border Security Force (BSF) reported the highest number of fatalities at 25. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) reported nine deaths, followed by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) with eight.
Assam Rifles recorded six fatalities, the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) five, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) four and the CRPF two. One personnel each from Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards also died in the line of duty.
Senior Police Officials Attend
The programme was organised under the supervision of Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) Prateek Mohanty.
Among those present were R P Koche, Director (Intelligence); Y K Jethwa, Director (Vigilance); S K Priyadarsi, Additional DGP (Modernisation); Dr Santosh Bala, Director (SFSL); Arun Bothra, Additional DGP (Railways and Coastal Security); Asit Kumar Panigrahi, Additional DGP (Vigilance); Sanjay Kumar, Additional DGP (Law and Order); Rajesh Kumar, Additional DGP (SAP); and Yatindra Koyal, Additional DGP (HRPC).
Other senior officers and police personnel joined the observance, honouring those who laid down their lives while protecting the public and upholding the law.
