Constable Makhan Lal served with the 2nd Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force. On 21 October 1959, he was among the personnel who made the supreme sacrifice during the confrontation at Hot Springs in Ladakh.
A CRPF patrol operating near the Indo-Tibetan border was ambushed by Chinese Army personnel equipped with automatic weapons and mortars. The patrol was at a serious disadvantage, yet the Indian personnel responded with determination under fire.
Makhan Lal was martyred during the attack. The sacrifice of the Hot Springs patrol became the foundation of Police Commemoration Day, observed annually to remember police personnel who gave their lives while carrying out their duties.
His name endures among the brave CRPF personnel whose service and sacrifice remain an inspiration to generations of police officers and citizens alike.
