Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 27: Centre Reserve Police Force (CRPF) today celebrated its 77th Raising Day and in this connection a grant function was held at Group Centre CRPF Kootah near here this morning.
The function started with floral tributes to martyrs of the force at GC Bantalab and G C Kootah. Kuldeep Dhar I G, CRPF Jammu Sector and Pankaj Kumar IG, CRPF , J&K Zone and other senior officers and jawans of the force attended it.
In the chain of functions, two IGs of the force Pankaj Kumar and Kuldeep Dhar decorated 27 officers and jawans of the Force with Director General Disc and Commendation letters and 177 officers and jawans with Antrik Suraaksha Padak in a function organised at CRPF Group Centre Kootah, presently functioning at Nagrota.
The families of the martyrs of the force were also honoured on the occasion. I G Pankaj Kumar congratulated all the medal recipients.
The CRPF was raised on July 27 1939 at Neemuch (Madhya Pradesh). Earlier, CRPF was known as Crown Representative Police but after independence i.e. in 1947 it was renamed as Central Reserve Police Force. This day is being celebrated in CRPF as Raising Day each year.
Besides the two IGPs of the force, Mool Chand Panwar, DIGP, GC, Kootah, S.L.C. Khup, DIGP, Range, Kootah, Neetu ,DIGP, Jammu Sector and Commandant & Senior officers of Jammu based Units were also present to grace the occasion.
In their address, IGs Pankaj Kumar and Kuldeep Dhar congratulated all medal recipients and wished all Force personnel a prosperous future and commended the role of force.
Mr Dhar also highlighted the role of CRPF in security of the country and said that our jawans have performed a remarkable role in fighting terrorism and insurgency as well as in crushing the naxalite movement.
He said the nation is proud of the valour shown by CRPF jawans while fighting terrorism in J&K and other parts of the country. He said the role of CRPF during the natural calamities has also been remarkable.
The CRPF was deployed in J&K , LWE affected states and North Eastern Region to quell the terrorist, Naxal/ insurgent activities and to maintain law and order. It was CRPF which bore the brunt of the first onslaughts of the Chinese at Hot Springs (Ladkah) on October 21, 1959 when a small CRPF patrol was ambushed by Chinese. In the ensuing skirmish, as many as 10 CRPF men laid down their lives for the motherland. Their martyrdom on October 21 is observed throughout the country as the Police Commemoration Day. A small contingent of 2nd Bn CRPF repulsed the 3500 men strong Pakistani Brigade attack on April 9, 1965 at Sardar Post in Gujarat in which 34 Pakistani soldiers were killed. In the battle six valiant CRPF Jawans laid down their lives. The Day is observed as Valour Day in the force. The brave jawans of the Force have repulsed militants attacks on Parliament House on December 13, 2001 and on Ram Janam Bhoomi/ Babri Masjid Complex in Ayodhya on July 5, 2005.
A cultural programme was also held at GC, CRPF , Bantalab in the evening in which families of force personnel were invited.
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