Musical tribute to police martyrs

In a first, people gathered on Saturday at the National Police Memorial here to pay the first musical tribute to the over 36,000 police and paramilitary personnel who laid down their lives in the line of duty to safeguard the internal security of the country.

‘A historic day’

Neatly dressed brass and pipe bands, troops dressed in ceremonial regalia and caparisoned camels of the country's largest border guarding force, BSF, lined up to deliver a befitting and the first band display and retreat ceremony to pay homage to the fallen trooper in 'khaki'.

Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, while officiating as the chief guest at the maiden event, called it a “historic day” to honour the martyred men and women of the central and state police forces as he said that these brave hearts should never be forgotten.

Patriotic tunes

The ceremony, that started with the national anthem, saw Border Security Force bands playing patriotic tunes as part of the musical tribute and they followed it up with martial music to the delight of the top brass of central police forces and few of those from the general public. PTI