Troops who lay down life are martyrs;no order needed:RPN Singh

Martyr or 'shaheed' is not a special category and there is no requirement of a separate notification in this regard, Minister of State for Home Affairs R P N Singh said today.
"There is no special category called as martyrs. Anyone who gives up life for uplift and safety of this country is a martyr and we salute our martyrs," Singh said.
Paramilitary and central police forces have made a number of representations to the Home Ministry and state governments, saying this honour for the troops who render a variety of security duties will not only act as a morale booster but will also enhance their self-respect.

The minister's reply came to a question posed during the raising day function of Indo-Tibetan Border Police here. "No order or notification is needed in this regard," he said.
"There is no kind of special thing as martyrs. Even in the Army there is no special thing. Anyone who gives up his life saving thousands of people, like the ITBP did in Uttarakhand, they are martyrs...Do you think they are not martyrs?" Singh said.
However, the Minister, in April this year had said that the Home Ministry has written to the states regarding the matter.
The Minister sought to clarify the official position of his ministry in this regard today stating that "martyr" or 'shaheed' is not a special category.

Singh also said that there was "no requirement of a separate notification" in this regard by the ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).