[dropcap]I[/dropcap]t is right and proper that the nation has decided to pay homage to police martyrs on Monday October 21.
A cenotaph is a memorial to members of the armed forces killed in a war. The word originates from the Greek kenos meaning empty and taphos meaning tomb. In a sense, this sounds kind of hollow but the English language has translated it into a refined description. Nagaland Police also has a cenotaph at Police Reserve, Kohima.Armed Forces tend to define the Army, Navy and Air Force usually. Today, however, the term has extended to all those men and women in uniform of various shades like the CRPF, State Police Forces, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Defence Security Corps, Territorial Army, Central Industrial Security Force, Traffic Police, Home Guards, Village Guards and so on, also called para military.
Martyrs do not only describe conventional uniformed personnel. They may include freedom fighters of whatever ideology including Naga national workers. However, here we deal with the conventional. It is true that the police force in general whether armed branch or unarmed are on constant duty. In Nagaland, there are over 800 police personnel on VIP duty at any time. What with all the tours of the VVIPs and VIPs these men in uniform do have a busy time, and responsibility.
Also, according to a Superintendent of Police, wherever there is social life—especially late at night—the DEF (District Executive Force) meaning the Nagaland Police are always on the alert. This has to be so not only because of the wildness of some youngsters but also to control traffic and movement of contraband to cite a few instances. They are supplemented by the IRB and also the Assam Rifles and CRPF. So, literally, the Police are on a 24-hour duty. At times, if necessary, they many also defend the borders. Therefore, police service is always on a war footing.
The loss of 576 lives of police personnel including five Nagas in the line of duty during the past year is a loss for the nation. The least that we can do for them is to honour their memory. DGP Nagaland Besesayo Kezo rightly said commemorating the day reminds about the dangers and responsibility involved in discharging their duties as police personnel.
Not only for all those in uniform but for all citizens, better some minutes of glory than a life of anonymity.
