Police Commemoration Day, October 21: The 1959 Hot Springs Incident Explained

Police Commemoration Day, sometimes called Martyrs' Day, is the day India's police forces remember colleagues who died in the line of duty. The choice of date goes back to a single clash in the high Himalaya.

This explainer sets out what the sources agree on, where they differ, and how the day is marked. It is a history article and not an account of any 2026 event.

What Police Commemoration Day Marks

The day commemorates police personnel who lost their lives on duty. According to ETV Bharat's explainer, the Annual Conference of Inspectors General of Police decided in January 1960 that October 21 would be observed as Commemoration Day.

The date was chosen because of the events of October 21, 1959, at Hot Springs.

What Happened at Hot Springs in 1959

Hot Springs lies in the Ladakh region, near the Chang Chenmo valley and the disputed border with Tibet, at roughly 15,000 to 16,000 feet according to ETV Bharat.

Before the clash

Wikipedia's account of the Kongka Pass incident says an Indian police party led by Deputy Superintendent Karam Singh set up a post at Hot Springs. On October 20, 1959, two reconnaissance men went missing, and a search party reported hoof-marks that suggested Chinese cavalry.

The ambush

On October 21, Karam Singh led a forward party that followed the tracks and met Chinese soldiers who were entrenched on a hill. Negotiations failed and a firefight followed. Personnel of the Intelligence Bureau and the Central Reserve Police Force were involved.

Casualties

The sources do not give one identical figure. ETV Bharat reports ten Indian lives lost and seven captured. Wikipedia reports nine killed in the engagement and one who died later of injuries, with seven taken prisoner. We therefore describe it as ten deaths, with the detail of how they occurred varying between sources.

How accounts differ

China argued that the Indian party had crossed the traditional border and that India provoked the clash. India maintained that the post was in its own territory. Wikipedia notes that later information places the incident on the Chang Chenmo river bank, about two miles west of the pass. We do not attempt to settle the boundary question here.

What Happened Afterwards

According to Wikipedia, the detainees were returned to India on November 14, 1959, a day after the bodies. Indian media called the incident a massacre, and the army took over manning border posts in the sector from November 1. The episode added to the tensions that preceded the war of 1962. See our explainer on the 1962 war.

How the Day Is Observed

• The National Police Memorial: ETV Bharat describes the memorial at Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, covering 6.3 acres. A museum there was inaugurated on October 21, 2018.
• Parade and wreath-laying: a Police Commemoration Day parade is held each year, and tributes are paid to personnel who died on duty.
• Treks to Hot Springs: the same source says police personnel trek to Hot Springs every year to pay homage, and a memorial stands there.
• State police headquarters: state forces hold their own ceremonies. Programme details for 2026 had not been published in the sources we found, so check your state police's announcements.

Why It Matters

For most citizens the day is a prompt to recognise a service that is rarely thanked: constables, inspectors and paramilitary personnel who work in extreme terrain and in cities. It is also a reminder of how a remote border incident shaped India's security thinking in the years before 1962.

Practical Details to Check

• Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
• Status: an observance. It is not a statutory public holiday, so offices and schools are normally open unless a state says otherwise.
• Events: the Ministry of Home Affairs and state police websites publish programme details close to the date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Police Commemoration Day on October 21?

Because of the October 21, 1959 ambush at Hot Springs, Ladakh, and the January 1960 decision of senior police officers to mark the date.

How many policemen died at Hot Springs?

Sources say ten, with seven captured. The exact detail of how each died varies, so treat any single figure with care.

Is Police Commemoration Day a public holiday?

No. It is an observance and not a statutory holiday.

Conclusion

October 21 links a 1959 high-altitude clash with a living tradition of remembrance. If you are following the day this year, check your state police's programme, and read the October 21 overview for the other events that share the date.