Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis paid floral tributes at the martyrs` memorial in Mumbai on Tuesday to mark Police Commemoration Day, honouring the sacrifices of police personnel who laid down their lives in the line of duty.
Fadnavis laid a wreath at the memorial located at the police headquarters in Naigaon, Mumbai.
According to the news agency PTI, Police Commemoration Day is observed every year on October 21 to remember the 10 brave policemen who were killed in an ambush by heavily armed Chinese troops at Hot Springs in Ladakh in 1959.
In a post on X, Fadnavis said, “On Police Commemoration Day, we bow in gratitude to the brave officers who laid down their lives in the line of duty. Their sacrifice continues to inspire us to uphold courage and integrity.”
As per the PTI, the wreath-laying ceremony was also attended by Deputy Guardian Minister for Mumbai Suburban District Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Maharashtra Director General of Police Rashmi Shukla, Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, senior police officials, foreign consuls, and other dignitaries.
In his address at the ceremony, Fadnavis also paid homage to 191 police personnel, including 34 officers and 157 constables, who made the supreme sacrifice for the nation over the past year.
The names of the personnel were read out, followed by a ceremonial salute accompanied by the police band and a three-volley gun salute. Uniformed officers and jawans also paid their respects.
The chief minister later interacted with the families of the deceased personnel, senior police officials and guests present at the ceremony.
Maharashtra CM flags off trucks carrying Diwali sweets for army jawans
Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis on Monday flagged off a convoy of trucks carrying Diwali sweets and festive items for Indian Army personnel stationed in border and high-risk areas, news agency ANI reported. The initiative was led by Adharsocial Trust in a bid to bring joy and a sense of connection to soldiers who spend Diwali far away from their families.
The campaign, now in its 10th consecutive year, involves the distribution of handmade sweets prepared by women across the country. Speaking at the event, social worker Shankar Eknath Chakankar, founder of Adharsocial Trust, described the initiative as an emotional and patriotic offering to the armed forces.
“The jawans posted at the border sites and sensitive areas are the reason why we are able to celebrate every festival peacefully. They are the protectors of the nation. Our mothers and sisters make sweets on the occasion of Deepawali, and we ensure that the first batch goes to the jawans. We decided that we will only celebrate Diwali after the jawans eat the sweets sent by us. For 10 years now, we have been sending them sweets filled with love,” said Chakankar.
The trucks, flagged off from Mumbai, are headed to various border locations where they will be received by military units ahead, ANI reported.
Each packet includes traditional sweets, dry fruits, and handwritten notes of gratitude from citizens, especially schoolchildren.
(With PTI inputs)
