Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat opens martyrs’ wall and training facilities at the Gandhinagar campus

 Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) marked Police Commemoration Day on Wednesday by paying tribute to 145 police martyrs and opening new facilities for police training, including a Police Martyrs’ Wall and a firing simulator laboratory.

Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat attended the ceremony as chief guest. The programme also saw the virtual launch of the Gujarat Police Martyrs’ Dashboard, which is intended to preserve information about police personnel who died in the line of duty.

The event brought together remembrance of fallen officers and the practical needs of police training. The new facilities cover memorial services, physical preparation, and simulated firing practice, while the digital dashboard is intended to record those who lost their lives serving the public.

Police Commemoration Day is observed across India every year on 21 October. The date recalls the deaths of 10 police personnel in an encounter with Chinese troops at Hot Springs in Ladakh on 21 October 1959. A patrol party had gone to search for missing colleagues when it came under fire. The incident led police leaders to set aside the date each year to remember personnel killed in the line of duty.

The annual observance now honours police personnel who have died while protecting the country and maintaining public safety. The National Police Memorial in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, serves as a national place of remembrance, while police organisations also hold ceremonies in their respective states and units.

At the Gandhinagar event, the Police Martyrs’ Wall was opened as a permanent place to remember fallen personnel. The Gujarat Police Martyrs’ Dashboard is intended to record their contributions in digital form. The usefulness of such a record will depend on the accuracy of its entries and how easily families, police staff and members of the public can access the information.

The Governor also opened the Physical Training and Adventure Wall, designed for physical conditioning and practical training, and the Dronacharya Firing Simulator Lab. Simulator-based practice allows trainees to work through firing exercises in a controlled setting. Such facilities can support instruction, although their value depends on sound training methods, qualified instructors and regular assessment of trainees.

Police Martyrs work places demands on personnel in many settings, from routine public order duties to emergencies and security operations. Training must therefore prepare officers to make decisions under pressure while following the law and protecting the public. Equipment and technology can assist that process, but they must form part of a wider system of professional instruction and accountability.

Prof. (Dr.) Bimal N. Patel, Vice-Chancellor of Rashtriya Raksha University, delivered the welcome address. He outlined the university’s work in education, research, specialised training and capacity-building in policing, internal security and related fields.

RRU was established to support education and professional training in national security and policing. Its work includes preparing personnel to respond to newer forms of crime and security threats. Cybercrime, in particular, requires officers to understand digital evidence, online fraud and the use of technology in investigations. Training institutions have a role in helping police forces keep pace with these changes.

In his address, Governor Acharya Devvrat paid tribute to the martyrs and offered condolences to their bereaved families. He spoke about their courage and integrity, describing their service as a contribution to the protection of the nation.

The Governor recalled that the university’s foundation had been laid during Narendra Modi’s tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat. He also praised RRU’s work in security research and the training of police personnel from different states, including work related to cybercrime and technology-based security problems.

Referring to India’s traditions of ahimsa, peace and fraternity, the Governor said that the pursuit of peace must go hand in hand with the courage to resist injustice and unlawful acts. Invoking the traditional maxim “Veer Bhogya Vasundhara”, he stressed the need for bravery and moral resolve when confronting wrongdoing. He warned that accepting injustice without resistance could encourage further violations.

The address also covered the duty of citizens to protect the country and its natural resources. Referring to Vijayadashami and its message of the triumph of good over evil, the Governor spoke of the need to uphold justice and act with courage.

The programme included the presentation of certificates to 20 newly recruited GIPCA Jail Sahayak trainees who had completed their training at RRU. The trainees’ completion of the course marks the university’s contribution to staffing and training in correctional administration, a part of the criminal justice system that deals with people held in jails.

The ceremony ended with a vote of thanks by Dr Dharmeshkumar D. Prajapati, Registrar of Rashtriya Raksha University, followed by the National Anthem.

The observance placed the memory of police personnel at the centre of a wider discussion about professional preparation. The martyrs’ wall and digital dashboard aim to keep their names and service records in public memory, while the training facilities address the ongoing need for police personnel to develop practical skills.

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