LEH: Manoj Yadava, Director General, Railway Protection Force, along with a 28-member delegation, paid homage to police bravehearts at the Hot Spring Memorial in Ladakh. This visit on Tuesday was in a show of solidarity, with gallant officers and men of the ITBP, ITBF, and Indian Army who are keeping a hawk-like vigil at the LAC amidst highly challenging conditions. Yadava led a 28-member delegation of police officers representing various state police and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), along with N. Prakash Reddy, DIG, Telangana Police, as the Deputy Leader of the group. Raja Banthia, DCP/EOW, represented Delhi Police as a member of the police delegation. The memorial has been a sacred site for the Indian Police Forces, where tributes are paid annually in memory of the sacrifice of the ten CRPF officers and personnel who laid down their lives while defending the nation on October 21, 1959. The ceremony, which began as a gesture of remembrance in 1960, continues to be a highly revered tradition for police officers across the country, serving and retired.This site is located in rugged and inhospitable terrain near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh at an altitude of 15,400 feet above sea level. The Police Delegation had the honour of meeting Sonam Dorjey, an 86-year-old veteran and a living legend and member of the patrolling party who bravely stood against Chinese troops during the fateful October 21, 1959, where he was captured. His resilience and courage remain an inspiring chapter of history. This year’s pilgrimage marked a significant milestone as Manoj Yadava became the first DG of the Railway Protection Force to lead the delegation. His participation, along with a team of police officers from diverse forces, reinforces the unity, strength, and camaraderie shared among the various police forces in India. While dedicating this pilgrimage to the 1011 brave personnel of the Railway Protection Force who have laid down their lives in line of duty since the Force’s inception in 1958, DG RPF reiterated the commitment of RPF to the spirit of duty, valour, and sacrifice exemplified by the brave hearts of 1959, whose memories will forever be enshrined in the annals of police history. Manoj Yadava’s visit and his participation in this solemn event serve as a source of inspiration for all members of the law enforcement community. It is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by police officers in the service of the nation and reinforces the enduring spirit of duty, valour, and commitment that defines the Indian Police fraternity.
