Fervour and gaiety marked the 65th Republic Day that was celebrated in different parts of the Union Territory of Puducherry. An enthusiastic crowd including children, women and elderly citizens stood up and saluted the national flag when the Lieutenant Governor Virendra Kataria hoisted it at the stadium, which was named after former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Accompanied by the Director General of Police, P. Kamaraj, Mr. Kataria received the guard of honour given by the police personnel. Besides Armed Police, Traffic Police, India Reserve Battalion, Home Guard, Fire Service, Ex-Servicemen, NCC cadets and others took part in a march past.
Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, Union Minister of State V. Narayanasamy, Speaker V. Sabapathy and Chief Secretary Chetan B. Sanghi were among those who witnessed the Republic Day celebrations.
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Seven police officials, R.A. Sanjeev, Senior Superintendent of Police; B. Srikanth (late), Senior Superintendent of Police; A. Gunasekaran, Superintendent of Police; M. Chandirasegar, Inspector; A. Dhandapani, Inspector; A. Sivanandam, Inspector; and Sarasa, Sub-Inspector; received the President’s police medal for meritorious service.
On behalf of Mr. Srikanth, who died last year, his wife S. Kavidha received the award from Mr. Kataria. It was announced that Omvir Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police, Law and Order, has been selected for the President’s medal. Lt. Governor Police medals were given to G. Shanmugasundaram, grade-I driver and S.G. Sivassoupramanien, Head Constable. Later, Mr. Kataria gave away the Chief Minister’s trophies for outstanding performance in SSLC examinations to 48 schools and award of Arch Bishop of Puducherry and Pondicherry University Vice Chancellor rolling trophy to 17 best performing schools in the higher secondary examinations.
Most of the leading schools participated in the cultural programme.
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