Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said the eight CRPF personnel who lost their lives in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday will certainly be considered as martyrs. (File photo)
Eight CRPF personnel who were killed by terrorists in an ambush in Jammu and Kashmir will be considered as martyrs, Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said today.
"There is no policy to formally declare martyrs. But government considers as martyrs all those who sacrifice their lives serving the nation," he told reporters in New Delhi.
Mr Rijiju said the eight CRPF personnel who lost their lives in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday will certainly be considered as martyrs.
The 7th Central Pay Commission has also batted for granting martyr status to personnel of central paramilitary forces, on the lines of the armed forces.
"The Commission is of the view that in case of death in the line of duty, the personnel of Central Armed Police Forces should be accorded martyr status, at par with the defence forces personnel," the Commission had said in its recommendations submitted to the government on November 19 last year.
About 10 lakh personnel are serving in five paramilitary forces--Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Border Security Force (BSF).