At Police Line, Dehradun, on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stood before the families of fallen officers and did something rare in ceremonial politics — he arrived with a list. Eight concrete announcements, a doubled budget, and a recruitment drive for 1,600 vacant posts: this was Police Smriti Divas (Police Remembrance Day) with real weight behind it.

154 martyrs in one year — including Uttarakhand's own

Chief Minister Dhami paid tribute to police and paramilitary personnel who gave their lives in the line of duty, and honoured the families of martyred officers at the ceremony. He acknowledged that 154 personnel across India made the supreme sacrifice in the past year while on duty. Among them was Sub-Inspector (Late) Vinod Kumar of the Uttarakhand Police — a name spoken aloud so his sacrifice would not dissolve into statistics. 'Martyrs are the pride of the entire nation,' Dhami said.

He also pointed to the National Police Memorial in New Delhi — dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi — as a permanent symbol of the bravery and sacrifice of India's police forces. The memorial, inaugurated in 2018, stands as a central government commitment to honouring those who fall protecting internal security.

Eight announcements that go beyond ceremony

The CM's eight-point package was the hard news inside a solemn occasion. He announced that recruitment for approximately 1,600 vacant posts across Uttarakhand Police units will begin soon. Station budgets will be doubled — the annual allocation for police stations rising from ₹4 crore to ₹8 crore. Investigators will receive modern forensic kits to sharpen on-ground probe capabilities.

On the welfare side, Dhami announced a transit hostel and multi-storey barracks for police personnel in Dehradun, upgrades to all Police Modern Schools across the state, and elevation of the Dehradun Police Hospital. Cashless medical facilities for police personnel are already being rolled out. He also stressed the need for regular stress-management programmes — a recognition that the toll of the job is not only physical.

Cyber crime centre and the drug-free Uttarakhand pledge

Two of the biggest contemporary threats to internal security got pointed attention. A State Cyber Crime Coordination Centre — being built at a cost of approximately ₹32 crore — is under construction. In an era of artificial intelligence and internet-enabled fraud, Dhami told officers they must stay 'two steps ahead' of cyber criminals through modern technology, better training, and inter-agency coordination.

On narcotics, a three-tier Anti-Narcotics Task Force has been constituted to pursue the 'Drug-Free Uttarakhand' goal, with strict action underway against drug traffickers. A Quick Response Team under the Women Help Desk has been formed at every police station to strengthen safety for women.

Kanwar Yatra, Char Dham, and the numbers that make the case

Dhami highlighted the operational scale Uttarakhand Police already manages: securing approximately 5 crore Kanwar Yatra pilgrims and over 60 lakh Char Dham Yatra devotees this year alone — all in the state's demanding mountain terrain. He noted that 319 officers have been honoured with medals and commendations for outstanding service this year, and that 785 personnel have been promoted. Direct recruitment of 1,573 constables in civil police and 370 in PAC has been completed, along with 222 posts of Sub-Inspector, Platoon Commander and Fire Second Officer. 24 dependants of deceased police personnel have been given appointments.

Police housing satisfaction has climbed from 18 per cent to 22 per cent, with a target of 30 per cent set. More than ₹58 crore has been released this financial year for police stations, fire centres, barracks, messes and other workplaces. Uttarakhand Police's nomination for the prestigious President's Police Colours was cited as a matter of state pride.

Prominent attendees included Haridwar MP and former Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, Cabinet Minister Khajan Das, Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Bansal, Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, Director General of Police Deepam Seth, and Dehradun DM Dr. Ashish Chauhan, among other senior officials and dignitaries.

The khaki uniform, Dhami said, is a symbol of courage, discipline and national service. The officers who wear it stand guard even on festival nights, far from their own families. In Uttarakhand's mountains and disasters, that vigil never stops.