IMPHAL, October 31: Since the time of its inception, the Central Reserved Police Force has sacrificed 2014 brave soldiers out of this figure 333 had sacrificed their lives while fighting insurgency in Manipur.
This was stated by DIGP of CRPF Group Centre Imphal, Vikram Shagal speaking at a function held at Group Centre, CRPF, Langjing celebrating the `National Unity Day` and `Warriors Remembrance Day` today.
This includes 33 brave soldiers from Manipur among whom seven had sacrificed their lives fighting insurgency in Manipur. While 27 of them sacrificed their lives in other states in various theatres of Kashmir, Punjab, left wing extremism etc. he said.
The birth anniversary of the first Home Minister of India Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel is observed as Rastriya Ekta Diwas or National Unity Day on October 31 every year all over the Nation.
Warriors Remembrance Day is also observed on this day which also happens to be the original rising day of the CRPF.
Shagal said `This is the day to remember the supreme sacrifices, these young boys had made in the discharge of their duties.`
`They laid down their lives protecting the sovereignty and integrity of the nation.`
`There cannot be a bigger lost for their mothers and fathers.`
The government of India have decided to celebrate this day as a `Warrior Remembrance Day.`
He further said Sardar Vallabhai Patel, the first home minister of the country, saw a lot of potential in this organization which was earlier known as the `crown representative police force.`™
There was a time when it was a force raised by the Britishers to contain basically the dacoit menace, but SVB Patel had a foresight that a day would come post-independence when the central government would need a very strong arm to help the State police organizations and the State administrations to maintain law and order, he said.
`CRPF after independence has played very important role in containing insurgency, practically in all the North-Eastern States,` he said.
`It went on to counter terrorism in Punjab for ten years, and from 90`™s onwards it went on to fight militancy in Kashmir.`
`It is the sacrifice of the husbands, the children, the fathers, the family members who are present here today that we have been able to restore peace in Punjab, Tripura and Mizoram.`
`Today we are grappling with the left wing extremism in which we are making supreme sacrifices. But the good point is, with our sacrifice and our duty and especially the sacrifice made by some of their family members we have been able to contain the situation in all these States.`
`When the bullet comes its doesn`™t see the place you belong to, it doesn`™t see the religion you belong to, it does not see the theatre in which you are working with whether you belong to that or not, because after all we have lost seven brave soldiers of Manipur in Manipur,` he added.
The function was attended by IGP of Manipur and Nagaland Sector, Nirmal Raj; DIPG Group Centre Imphal, Vikram Shagal, DIGP Range Imphal Sumit Rai and Commandant of 109 Bn CRPF, PK Mishra as presidium members.
The programme started with a march past parade followed by a pledge taking ceremony.
A wreath laying ceremony at the Martyrs`™ Memorial was held were IGP, DIGP and other ranks of CRPF along with family members of the martyrs pay homage to the departed souls.
Later, the next of kin of martyrs of Manipur were felicitated by presenting mementos and `Books on Martyrs`™ released in Delhi by the Prime Minister of India.