Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], January 24: A red alert has been issued in Punjab ahead of Republic Day celebrations, with heightened security measures across the state. Special operations are underway in all districts, according to Punjab’s Special DGP (Law & Order), Arpit Shukla.
Shukla stated, “A red alert has been declared in Punjab in light of Republic Day. We are conducting special operations throughout the state, with senior officers from Chandigarh dispatched to inspect security arrangements. Security checks are ongoing to monitor gangsters, smugglers, and anti-social elements.”
Hotspots across the state have been identified, and various operations including raids and searches are being conducted. “Intensive checking is taking place at bus stops and railway stations. We’ve also fortified the second line of defense along the international border to prevent infiltration and smuggling,” Shukla added.
In a significant update, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will now unfurl the national flag in Patiala, instead of the previously planned location, Faridkot, due to administrative reasons.
Meanwhile, preparations for the Republic Day Parade in the national capital are also underway. The parade will feature a grand cultural performance by 5000 artists, covering the entire Kartavya Path, ensuring that all guests have the same viewing experience.
Major General Sumit Mehta, Chief of Staff, HQ Delhi Area, explained, “This year, cultural performers will be visible along the entire Kartavya Path, unlike before when they performed in one spot, so all spectators can enjoy the performance.”
The parade will begin with a unique cultural presentation by 300 artists playing traditional musical instruments from across the country, followed by a march past by armed forces contingents, including the Indonesian contingent. On January 26, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay a wreath at the National War Memorial, marking the start of the celebrations.