Full-dress rehearsal for I-Day function

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 12

A full-dress rehearsal was held here today ahead of the Independence Day celebrations. Deputy Commissioner Diprava Lakra hoisted the Tricolour and inspected the parade comprising contingents of the Punjab Police, Home Guards, NCC cadets (boys and girls), scouts and guides of various schools.

As many as 1,600 schoolchildren participated in a PT show and a cultural programme comprising patriotic songs, giddha and bhangra.

Minister of State for Public Welfare, Social Protection and Women Development Razia Sultana will be the chief guest at the Independence Day function, which will be held at the Multi-purpose Sports Stadium here.

Deputy Commissioner Dipriva Lakra said that all preparations and security arrangements for the Independence Day function were in place. He said instructions had been issued to ensure proper arrangements for school students participating in various events.

The DC said that sewing machines and tricycles would be distributed to the needy persons on the occasion.

Tight security ahead of I-Day

The police have tightened security arrangements ahead of the Independence Day. Heavy police force has been deployed in sensitive areas of Bathinda city and other parts of the district.

Bathinda SSP Naveen Singla held a meeting with senior police officials today to discuss the security arrangements. The police conducted a checking drive at the railway station, bus stand.

Check-posts have been installed various places in the city for random checking of the vehicles entering the city. The patrolling time of the PCR teams has also been increased. Two additional companies of PAP battalion will arrive in the city on August 14.

Heavy police force has been has deployed at the Multi-purpose Sports Stadium where Minister of State Razia-Sultana will unfurl the Tricolour. The SP said the security rehearsal, along with the flag march, would be held tomorrow morning.

He said the entry points of the district had already been sealed and checking at Doomwali village on the Punjab-Haryana border increased. The SSP said tight security arrangements would be put in place for the Independence Day celebrations at the sub-divisional level.