PUDUCHERRY: Chief Minister N Rangasamy laid a wreath at the Martyrs Pillar at Gorimedu Police Complex to pay tribute to those police personnel, who sacrificed their lives while on duty, on the occasion of the Police Commemoration Day on Tuesday.
Inspector General of Police Praveer Ranjan, Deputy Inspector General Kannan Jagadesan and senior Superintendent of Police (L&O) Omvir Singh Bishnoi also laid the wreaths at the memorial with a performance by the police band.
IGP Praveer Ranjan, who explained the importance of the day, said 662 policemen of various ranks lost their lives while performing their duty in the past one year, from September 1, 2013 to August 31, 2014 in various States and Union Territories.
He added that a total number of seven Superintendents of Police, Additional SPs, 20 inspectors, 34 sub-inspectors, 49 assistant sub-inspectors, 219 head constables, 327 constables and six others had died. The list included one policeman from Tamil Nadu.
Praveer Ranjan said the ‘Commemoration Day’ in all Police Lines throughout the country is observed to mark the memory of 10 gallant personnel who made a supreme sacrifice repelling an enemy attack in the Hot Springs of Ladakh 55 years ago.
The Inspector General of Police said the duty of police personnel has become more stressful and risky in recent times. This was because of the various threats from anti-national elements and anti-socials.
Later, ceremonial gun shots were fired to mark the occasion. A two-minute silence was observed for the departed souls.
According to information made available, since 1961, a total of 32,557 policemen had sacrificed their lives for the country.