Tripura celebrates 63rd Independence Day amidst tight security

Agartala, Aug. 15 (ANI): As the nation celebrated the 63rd Independence Day with a joyous mood on Saturday, the I-Day function was held under tight security in Tripura.

Security had been beefed up in the State while anticipating a possible attack by militant organizations of the region, who had given a boycott call of the Independence Day celebrations in the northeast.

People were allowed to enter the venue of Independence Day celebrations at the Assam Rifles parade ground only after undergoing a strict checking. Sniffer dogs and metal detectors were also used for security check at entry points of the venue.

Till evening, there were no reports of any untoward incident.

Chief Minister Manik Sarkar hoisted the tricolour on Saturday morning at the Assam Rifles parade ground in Agartala.

Meanwhile, thousands of people, defying militant threat to boycott the I-Day celebrations, converged at the parade ground for the celebrations.

"I think there is adequate security measures and so people defying the militant boycott call on Independence Day celebration have gathered here in large numbers to celebrate," said Dipankar Das, one of the visitors.

Paramilitary forces, state police and National Cadet Core (NCC) cadets participated in the parade, which was followed by a colourful cultural programme.

Earlier, following a boycott call of the Independence Day celebrations from different parts of the northeast States by at least five militant organizations, security forces and the State administration in the seven sister States including Tripura had reviewed the security situation to avoid any type of untoward incident during the I-Day celebrations.

Para-military forces along with sniffer dogs were conducting search operations in the interior places and were checking all vehicles and passengers at different places including the national highway.

Meantime, Border Security Force had intensified its vigil across the 856 km porous Indo-Bangladesh border to stop any type of trans-border movement.

A red alert had been sounded in the state and at the different vulnerable places in the urban areas security personnel have been deployed and the dog and bomb squads are conducting regular checking.

Security in the national high way, bus terminus, busy markets places and in the airport had been increased. Different drop gates had been established at different points of entry to the capital, Agartala.

The militant groups that called for a boycott of the Independence Day celebrations included the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), the Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), fighting for a separate homeland comprising parts of Assam and West Bengal, the Manipur People's Liberation Front (MPLF), an umbrella group of several Manipuri rebel groups, and the Tripura People's Democratic Front (TPDF).

Police informed that adequate security measures had been taken and it was confident that like previous years this time also the Independence Day celebrations would be peaceful. (ANI)