Minister for Panchayats and Social Welfare M. K. Muneer will receive the salute at the Republic Day parade at the Vikram Maidan at West Hill at 8.30 a.m. on Sunday.
All arrangements have been made at the venue for the parade and programmes. Various schools in the district will stage programmes on the occasion.
Twelve platoons of the NCC (Army), NCC (Girls), NCC (Navy), City Armed Reserve, Rural Armed Reserve, policewomen, city traffic police, city police, Junior NCC Boys, Junior NCC Girls will take part in the parade. This apart, contingents from the Scouts, Girls Guides, Excise Department and Forest Department, two teams of the Junior Red Cross will also be part of the parade.
There will be cultural events after the parade. District Collector C.A. Latha and Commissioner of Police G. Sparjankumar would be present for the Republic Day celebrations.
Mr. Sparjankumar said that the security had been strengthened in the city following the general alert sounded during the Republic Day and Independence Day celebrations. Besides, the Home Department had also given warnings about the Maoist threat issued throughout the State.
The police started combing operations at the venue of the parade, railway stations and bus stations. Checks had been carried out at lodges and hotels. The dog squad and anti-sabotage squad also conducted regular checks at vital installations, he said.
A general alert has also been sounded at the Calicut Airport from Saturday in view of the Republic Day celebrations in the country. The alert at the Calicut Airport is generally sounded during such occasions.
