The Odisha Police held a ceremony on Wednesday at the State Police Headquarters in Kataka to recognize the 67th Police Commemoration Day. This event paid tribute to police officers who lost their lives while serving, with DGP-in-Charge Vinaytosh Mishra emphasizing the importance of maintaining professionalism and fostering public confidence in the force.
Mishra, who was the chief guest at the event, laid floral tributes in memory of the martyrs and extended his condolences to their families. The police force performed a ceremonial salute with reversed arms, followed by a two-minute silence to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
During his address, the DGP recalled the events of October 21, 1959, when ten members of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed while engaging Chinese troops in the Ladakh area. This day is recognized nationwide as Police Commemoration Day in homage to their bravery and sacrifice.
Mishra noted that this year alone, 154 personnel from various state police forces and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have died in the line of duty. He remarked that their commitment and bravery would continue to motivate the entire police community.
In particular, he paid tribute to the Odisha Police and paramilitary members who lost their lives during anti-Maoist operations in the region, highlighting their significant efforts in overcoming Maoist violence and restoring peace.
Furthermore, he acknowledged the resilience and sacrifices of the families of those who have died in service.
The DGP pointed out that the responsibilities of police have evolved beyond traditional crime control, now encompassing challenges such as terrorism, Maoist extremism, organized crime, cybercrime, drug trafficking, and issues related to women and children, as well as traffic management and law enforcement.
He emphasized the necessity of enhancing the professional skills of police personnel through the use of modern technology, ongoing training, and better operational readiness.
Mishra urged officers and staff to perform their duties with integrity, bravery, commitment, and professionalism, calling for a collaborative effort to create a safer, more peaceful Odisha.
Statistics revealed during the ceremony indicated that fatalities this year included six from Bihar and nine from Madhya Pradesh, with six each from Assam, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh, and five from Rajasthan and West Bengal. The data also accounted for losses among personnel from other states including Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Manipur, Punjab, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Delhi, and Jammu and Kashmir.
Among the central security forces, the Border Security Force (BSF) reported 25 deaths, followed by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) with nine, and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) with eight. The Assam Rifles accounted for six deaths, the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) reported five, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) four, and the CRPF two. Additionally, one personnel each from Fire Services, Civil Defence, and Home Guards was also reported as having died in the line of duty.
The event was coordinated by Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) Prateek Mohanty, with attendance from various senior police officials, including R P Koche, Director of Intelligence; Y K Jethwa, Director of Vigilance; S K Priyadarsi, Additional DGP of Modernisation; Dr. Santosh Bala, Director of SFSL; and other high-ranking officials who paid their respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation.
