Republic Day Of India: Security Beefed Up
By Swatilekha Paul, Gaea News NetworkThursday, January 20, 2011
NEW DELHI, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- With less than a week to go before India celebrates Republic Day this year, the security arrangements across the country especially in the national capital has been beefed up to avoid any kind of untoward incident during the January 26 celebrations. Over the last one week, forces in New Delhi are gearing up to make sure that the security during the Republic Day celebrations are up to the mark especially during the parade from Rajpath to Red Fort which is held every year to commemorate the day.
According to senior security officials, the entire parade route would be kept under hawk-eyed vigil with special-security and anti-terror arrangements being heightened while steps are being taken to ensure anti-sabotage checks as well as coordinating with intelligence information. Apart from these, during the Republic Day celebrations which are scheduled to take place next Wednesday, helicopters from the Indian Air Force would be keeping a close-eye on Rajpath as well as the entire parade route, officials have revealed. On Tuesday, officials from the National Capital Region (NCR) evaluated the security measures that have been undertaken as well as the coordination between the various security forces in a special meeting.
During this year’s, Republic Day celebrations, the special guest is going to be the President of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono while the parade would also be attended by the nation’s high-profile political as well as military leaders. While President of India Pratibha Patil would be unfurling the tricolor, she would be accompanied by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and other top leaders across parties.
