IAF bags best marching contingent award

New Delhi, Jan 30 (PTI) The Indian Air Force hasbagged the ''Best Marching Contingent'' award amongst the threeServices at this year''s Republic Day Parade while the Indo-Tibetan Border Police has been adjudged the best amongst theparamilitary.

More than 10 contingents of the three Services marchedon the Rajpath and included horse-mounted columns of Army''s 61Cavalry, Punjab Regiment, Grenadiers Regiment, RajputanaRifles Regiment, Rajput Regiment, Sikh Light InfantryRegiment, Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry, 3 Gorkha Riflesand the Territorial Army along with a column each of the navyand the Air Force.

The marching contingents of paramilitary and otherauxiliary civil forces included Border Security Force, AssamRifles, Coast Guard, Central Reserve Police Force,Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Central Industrial Security Force,Sashastra Seema Bal, Railway Protection Force, Delhi Police,National Cadet Corps and National Service Scheme.

Among the 23 tableaux showcasing their respectivestates and ministries, the tableau from Delhi, with its themeof cultural and religious harmony in the national capital, hasbagged the coveted first prize.

The awards to the winning contingents would be givenaway by Defence Minister A K Antony on Monday.

The Karnataka tableau, depicting the exotic handicraftof Bidriware from Bidar region, and Jammu