Police on Saturday organised a 12-km commemoration run in naxal-affected Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh on the eve of Police Commemoration Day which was observed Sunday.
The event was organised to pay homage to the martyrs who have laid down their lives to establish peace in the Bastar region, Bijapur Superintendent of Police Mohit Garg told PTI.
"The objective of the event was to appeal to misguided tribal youths from the insurgency-hit area to return to the mainstream," he said.
Around 2,000 participants from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh took part in the run held in two categories.
Sports celebrities like Padmashree awardee Dharampal Saini, Karate champion Ambar Singh Bharadwaj, weightlifter Rustam Sarang, archer Teklal Kurre, mountaineer Naina Singh Dhakad and wooden artist Ajay Mandavi were present on the occasion.
"The run started from the Martyrs Gate at Awapally The and culminated at the Martyrs memorial in Bijapur. At Awanpally, a tribute was paid to the martyrs who had laid down their lives to ensure protection and construction of a road between Bijapur and Basaguda," said the police officer.
In mens' category, Yudhistir Sahu of Durg (Chhattisgarh), Rahul Kumar of Bardhman (West Bengal) and Mangi Ram of Jagdalpur (CG) secured first, second and third positions, respectively.
In womens' group, Tejeshwari Sahu, Priyankar Nishad andSavita Markam (all from Chhattisgahrh) claimed top three spots.
A separate 3-km run was organised for children in the age group of 12-16 years, he added.
Oct 21 is observed as the 'Police Commemoration Day' every year in memory of the policemen killed in Hot Springs in Ladakh by the Chinese troops on this date in 1959.
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