Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Tight security for VS

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan arrived under tight security to attend the Independence Day parade at the Central Stadium here on Friday morning.

Mr. Achuthanandan’s body guards, all plainclothesmen carrying concealed 9mm pistols, ran alongside his official car as it neared the VIP gallery. State police commandos carrying AK-47 assault rifles formed a security ring around the Chief Minister as he inspected the parade and took the salute. The police had tightened the Chief Minister’s security following an e-mail threat to his life. The public was asked to leave the stadium only after the Chief Minister left.

The Chief Minister unfurled the national flag at 8.30 a.m.

Deputy Commandant of Police U. Sharafali commanded the parade. The Malabar Special Police, Special Armed Police, Kerala Armed Police battalions, City Armed Reserve Police, City Local Police, City Women Police, Kerala Prisons Department platoon, Excise Department, Kerala Fire and Rescue Services, Sainik School, National Cadet Corps units, and Bharat Scout and Guide platoons participated in the march.

The Chief Minister presented the President’s Police Medals, Fire Service Medals, Prison Service Medals, Jeevan Raksha Pathaks and Chief Minister’s Medals for the police, fire service, prisons and forest departments.

The Special Armed Police platoon won the Chief Minister’s trophy for the best police unit in the parade. Kendriya Vidyalaya, Pattom, won the Chief Minister’s trophy for the highest collection towards the Armed Forces Flag Day fund. School children rendered patriotic songs. The ceremony ended at 10.15 a.m.

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