Odisha on Wednesday joined Governor Ganeshi Lal in celebrating the nation's 73rd Republic Day with patriotic fervour, gaiety and enthusiasm amid Covid-19 restrictions.
Governor Lal unfurled the Tricolour and took salute of the State-level Republic Day parade celebrations at the Mahatma Gandhi Marg in Bhubaneswar. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik graced the occasion as the guest of honour.
2019 batch IPS Rohit Verma, ASP-under-training, Angul led the march from the front followed by the Second in Command, Ashok Biswal OAPS, Assistant Commander, SOG, Chandaka.
As many as 10 contignents in total took part in the parade. A platoon of BSF Jatni Khurda commanded by Sub Inspector Sundar Lal Pokar, CRPF, Bhubaneswar- platoon commander Inspector Satyabrata Mahali, Odisha State Police Brass Band 1st platoon- platoon commander Sub Inspector Antaryami Dehury, OSAP 7th Battalion- platoon commander, Jayant Kumar Mohapatra, SOG, Chandaka- platoon commander Sub inspector Rabindra Prasad Padhi, Odisha Fire Services Band- platoon commander Samson Pradhan, ODRAF- platoon commander, Sub inspector Rahman Khan and another platoon of Odisha State Police Brass Band participated in the parade.
Tight security arrangements were put in place for the smooth celebrations of the Republic Day. As many as 62 CCTV cameras were installed at strategic points and one control room was set up to keep an eagle eye on the area.
A five-tier security preparation with 25 platoons of police personnel along with 70 officers, two units of the Special Tactical Unit were deployed to tackle any emergency.
This year the celebrations were a low-key affair but all the decorum had been maintained. Only police and paramilitary contingents participated in the ceremony held without the presence of general public.
Only a limited number of guests were invited to the event, using e-invites, which included selected Covid warriors. RT-PCR test was made made mandatory for those participating in the parade.
Apart from the State-level parade in Bhubaneswar, the entire Odisha is celebrating the 73rd Republic Day with great fervour.
(Edited by Suryakant Jena)