New Delhi, Oct 21: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday called upon police forces across the country to intensify efforts against drug abuse and trafficking, setting December 31, 2029, as the target to free India from the drug menace.
Addressing a Police Commemoration Day ceremony at the National Police Memorial in New Delhi, Shah urged police forces to work towards implementing the roadmap for a ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat’ prepared under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Shah also flagged off a nationwide motorcycle rally carrying the message “Fight Against Drugs” as part of the campaign against substance abuse.
The rally features around 90 riders from Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, along with personnel from the Central Armed Police Forces and other central police organisations.
The riders will proceed to Ekta Nagar in Gujarat to participate in the Ekta Parade-2026.
Shah said drug abuse and trafficking threatened the future of younger generations, placed an unnecessary burden on the economy and could provide financial support to organisations with anti-national intentions.
He called for coordinated efforts over the remainder of 2026 and the next three years to achieve the drug-free India target.
At the ceremony, the Home Minister paid tribute to police personnel who laid down their lives in the line of duty, saying their sacrifices had laid the foundation for India’s security and progress.
He described 2026 as a significant year for the Indian police, stating that the country had achieved freedom from Naxalism on March 31, 2026.
According to Shah, more than 3,600 security personnel and nearly 13,700 civilians lost their lives during the decades-long Naxal conflict.
He said the sacrifices of security personnel had contributed to the country’s progress and expressed gratitude to the families of those killed in the line of duty.
Recalling the origins of Police Commemoration Day, Shah said October 21 marked the anniversary of the 1959 incident in the Hot Springs region of Ladakh, where 10 CRPF personnel laid down their lives while resisting an attack by Chinese troops.
The National Police Memorial, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018, honours police personnel who sacrificed their lives in service of the nation. Shah said citizens visit the memorial to pay tribute to 36,852 police personnel.
He described police service as one of the most challenging government services, noting that personnel often remain on duty during festivals and other occasions to maintain public safety and internal security.
Shah also praised the Central Armed Police Forces for their role in securing borders, managing elections and maintaining public order. He said the forces had helped ensure that the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections were conducted without a single fatality.
The Home Minister further said that Kashmir, the North-East and areas affected by Left-Wing Extremism, which had faced prolonged internal security challenges, were witnessing peace and moving towards development.
He credited security forces with curbing terrorism in Kashmir, advancing peace in the North-East and tackling Naxalism.
Police Commemoration Day is observed annually on October 21 to honour police personnel who have made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.
