Hyderabad, October 22: Not a single policeman in Andhra Pradesh died in the line of duty during the last one year while 833 policemen were killed in various operations in different parts of the country, Director General of Police R R Girish Kumar said on Tuesday. Police Commemoration Week is being observed as a mark of respect to the police martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. A Commemoration Day parade will be held at Goshamahal stadium on Wednesday during which Chief Minister K Rosaiah and other dignitaries will lay wreaths at the Martyr’s memorial, he said.
Addressing a press conference, Girish Kumar said commemoration week is being observed from October 15 to 21 throughout the State during which school and college students and members of youth clubs and other associations were invited to visit police stations and interact with the police officers.
Elocution and essay writing competitions were held in all districts yesterday on the topic, ‘My concept of an ideal police officer’, and prizes given. An essay competition for policemen on the topic ‘How to make policemen handle crises situation effectively,’ was conducted.
Besides, blood donation camps were organised while the AP Forensic Science Laboratory also organised a exhibition about the scientific methods of investigation.
At the Commemoration Day parade on Wednesday, arms will be reversed and a two-minute silence will be observed in honour of the departed souls.
The history of Commemoration Day traces back to October 21, 1959 when a patrol party of CRPF led by SI Karan Singh was ambushed by the Chinese forces at Hot Springs in Ladakh and 10 jawans were killed. The jawans fought bravely at an altitude of 16,000 feet in extremely cold conditions and against all odds. Their martyrdom is remembered throughout the country as Police Commemoration Day every year.
Listing out the welfare schemes for the personnel, Girish Kumar said that there were 95,296 members in the Bhadratha scheme. “We collect Rs 200 per month from personnel up to the Assistant subinspector of police rank and Rs 400 from sub-inspector and above ranks. Interest is paid to them and the money collected is given as loans for education, marriage and other purposes to our personnel,’’ Girish Kumar said.
He said that new welfare schemes are also being discussed. “We are studying the existing schemes in other states and central police organisations,” he added.
–Agencies