Over 3000 Participants Drawn From 62 Institutions take part R-Day rehearsal
R-Day rehearsal held amid tight security
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 23 2013: Amid strong security arrangement and traffic diversion the full dress rehearsal for the 64th Republic Day celebration of India was here today with significant increase in the number of march past contingents from educational institutions being the highlight of the curtain-raiser.

After several years of educational institutions staying away from the celebration, fearing reprisals in the wake of armed groups boycotting events related to the Indian Republic Day celebration, this time around march past contingents from schools/colleges are set to have significant presence if today's rehearsal was any indication.

Out of over 3000 participants from 62 institutions in today's rehearsals, student contingents made up nearly half the total strength.

In the last many years, the celebration was mainly participated by security force contingents and some educational institutions, but this morning substantial number of Government schools and colleges took part at the preparatory event.

Compared to participation by some educational institutions lying in close proximity to the parade route/zone being the norm in the past, today's rehearsal had many contingents from the outskirts of the twin capital districts.

The total strength of participants is also likely to increase as cultural troupes and tableaux display were not part of today's parade.

After the parade route was sanitised by bomb squad personnel with hand-held explosive detectors, the march part contingents came out from 1st Bn Manipur Rifles ground and proceeded into Kangla, the main saluting base.

From the erstwhile bastion of the then rulers of independent Manipur, the contingents headed towards the Kangla North gate and continued the march on the kanglapat road before entering into the starting point via North AOC, Khoyathong and Raj Bhavan sections of Kanglapat road.

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