Police forces across the country should work together to make India drug-free: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah addresses police officers during the Police Commemoration Day programme on October 21, 2026 | Photo Credit: ANI Personnel of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) remain vigilant and strengthen the nation’s internal security on every occasion, whether elections, festivals, protests or border security duties, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Wednesday (October 21, 2026).India succeeded in eliminating electoral violence in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, but electoral violence continued in West Bengal for a long time, Mr. Shah said. During the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly election, security personnel achieved significant success by ensuring that polling was completed without a single fatality, he said. “In doing so, the CAPFs established a new benchmark and the entire country now recognises that electoral violence has been brought to an end in the country,” the Minister said.There were numerous examples across the country of police personnel demonstrating extraordinary patience, restraint, discipline, courage and dedication, thereby strengthening the nation’s internal security, he said.The Home Minister paid tribute to police personnel who had laid down their lives in the line of duty at the National Police Memorial in New Delhi on the occasion of Police Commemoration Day.The ceremony was attended by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan; the Director of the Intelligence Bureau Mahesh Dixit; the Director General (D-G) of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Shatrujeet Kapoor; the D-G of the Border Security Force (BSF) Praveen Kumar; and the D-Gs of the other CAPFs.Post-Independence, 36,852 security personnel had laid down their lives in the line of duty, Mr. Dixit said.Also read: Colleges told to ensure drug-free campuses“For the Indian police, 2026 is an extremely significant year,” Mr. Shah said, adding, “On March 31, 2026 the country achieved freedom from Naxalism, which had plagued India for decades. From 1981 to March 2026, the country endured numerous hardships due to Naxalism. During this period, many brave security personnel and innocent civilians lost their lives. More than 36,000 security personnel were martyred, and nearly 13,700 innocent civilians also lost their lives.”On October 21, 1959, in the remote and inhospitable Hot Springs region of Ladakh, 10 CRPF personnel laid down their lives while bravely resisting an attack by Chinese troops, Mr. Shah said, recalling the history of the Police Commemoration Day.“A study of the Hot Springs incident made it clear that when the battle was decided in the high-altitude mountains, the outcome was almost certain. Yet, these immortal heroes remained steadfast in their resolve that not even an inch of the country’s land should fall into foreign hands, making the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. Since then, October 21 has been observed every year as Police Commemoration Day,” he said.“The country has not yet become completely free of problems, and several challenges remain,” Mr. Shah said. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs had set the target to free the country from the drug menace by December 31, 2029, he said. Drug abuse and trafficking undermine the future of coming generations, place an unnecessary burden on the economy, and often provide financial support to organisations with anti-national intentions, Mr. Shah said. Published - October 21, 2026 06:25 pm IST