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India celebrates Republic Day with military parade | India celebrates Republic Day with military parade |
(40 minutes later) | |
India has celebrated its 63rd Republic Day showing off its latest weapons at a military parade in the capital, Delhi. | India has celebrated its 63rd Republic Day showing off its latest weapons at a military parade in the capital, Delhi. |
Thousands of people turned up at Rajpath (King's Avenue) to watch the colourful parade amid tight security. | Thousands of people turned up at Rajpath (King's Avenue) to watch the colourful parade amid tight security. |
More than 25,000 policemen and paramilitary forces guarded the streets of Delhi and snipers were deployed on high-rise building. | More than 25,000 policemen and paramilitary forces guarded the streets of Delhi and snipers were deployed on high-rise building. |
The president and the PM attended the show with the chief guest, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. | The president and the PM attended the show with the chief guest, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. |
Security is tight across India and thousands of policemen have been deployed in major cities and towns. | Security is tight across India and thousands of policemen have been deployed in major cities and towns. |
Security has been stepped up in Indian-administered Kashmir where police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in large numbers at Bakshi Stadium, the venue of the Republic Day celebrations, in Srinagar city. | |
Kashmir, which has seen a long insurgency against the Indian rule, is observing the day as "Black Day". | |
Internet and mobile phone services have been jammed to prevent their use by militant groups, officials say. | |
Sporadic violence broke out in the summer capital, Srinagar, as small groups of young men pelted stones at security forces, the BBC's Riyaz Masroor in Srinagar reported. | |
Tight security | |
On Thursday morning, Delhi resembled a fortress with a multi-layered security ring in place at Rajpath, where President Pratibha Patil unfurled the Indian flag and took the salute of marching contingents, news agency Press Trust of India reported. | On Thursday morning, Delhi resembled a fortress with a multi-layered security ring in place at Rajpath, where President Pratibha Patil unfurled the Indian flag and took the salute of marching contingents, news agency Press Trust of India reported. |
Officials said 160 closed-circuit cameras were installed between Rajpath and Red Fort, the route of the parade. | Officials said 160 closed-circuit cameras were installed between Rajpath and Red Fort, the route of the parade. |
Anti-aircraft guns were placed at several places and helicopters hovered over the parade route. | Anti-aircraft guns were placed at several places and helicopters hovered over the parade route. |
At the parade, the army displayed its tanks and missile launchers. | At the parade, the army displayed its tanks and missile launchers. |
The nuclear capable Agni-IV missile with a range of 3,000km (1,864 miles), which was successfully tested last November, was cheered by the public, reports said. | |
Smaller parades have also been held in the state capitals. | Smaller parades have also been held in the state capitals. |
Reports say 40,000 policemen are keeping vigil in the financial capital, Mumbai, which has seen several high-profile militant attacks in recent years. | Reports say 40,000 policemen are keeping vigil in the financial capital, Mumbai, which has seen several high-profile militant attacks in recent years. |
Security has also been stepped up in the north-eastern state of Assam where several insurgent groups are active. | Security has also been stepped up in the north-eastern state of Assam where several insurgent groups are active. |