The National Police Memorial, inaugurated on 21 October 2018, is a tribute to over 34,000 police personnel who have laid down their lives in the line of duty since 1947, including 424 police men and women who died in 2017.
The memorial complex is also home to the Wall of Valour, which lists the names of all the 34,844 police personnel who have lost their lives since independence.
The memorial complex houses the new underground National Police Museum which has exhibits for all the police forces and intelligence agencies in India. You may have never even heard of these government organisations, but they play a crucial role in the security of our nation. Organisations such as the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), Intelligence Bureau (IB), National Security Guard (NSG), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science (NICFS), Railway Protection Force and many others are represented. Each of the 30 states and 6 UTs is also represented, as well as the police dogs.
Did you know: The Indian Police have been part of the United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping missions in places such as Bosnia, Kosovo, South Sudan.
The museum also has a section for stories related to the police forces which will be updated regularly. The tales of bravery and sacrifice in the line of duty are chilling but ever so inspiring. They range from police operations such as the killing of dreaded Indian dacoit Veerappan to anti-terror operations such as the Akshardham attack in 2002 to the killing of the first woman IPS officer, Ms Vandana Malik, by People’s Liberation Army in Imphal, Manipur.
Did you know: Intelligence Bureau (IB) personnel were part of the first four Indian expeditions to Mt. Everest. Since then IB personnel have been part of over 40 expeditions to some of the highest peaks in the subcontinent, keeping a watch over strategically important places such as the Indo-Tibetan border in Nepal.
Be sure to check this amazing location, one of the finest tributes to those who fight against terrorism, militancy and insurgency in our country, who prevent crime and lay down their lives in trying to maintain law and order in our country – despite the grave odds they face.
The memorial complex is closed on Mondays.
Note: Based on a visit by the author to the Memorial complex on the first day the complex was open for the public. The photograph have been taken by the author.