77th Independence Day Archives - Lokmarg

C’garh: Village In Naxal-Affected Sukma Gets Electricity For First Time

By LokMarg 16th August 2023

In a significant achievement for the local administration in its efforts to take development to the areas affected by Naxalite violence, households in Elmagunda village in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh have got electricity. The feat of electrifying households in this remote Naxal violence-affected village was achieved on the eve of India’s 77th Independence Day.

The task was achieved on August 14 through the efforts of district police which worked in coordination with Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company Limited.

Electricity had not reached Elmagunda till August 14 and people faced difficulties in their lives.

The police official said meetings were held with the villagers to make them aware of the activities of Naxals and persuade them to give thrust to the development of their village. The villagers were also urged to keep their distance from Naxalites.

Personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) also contributed to the task.

The efforts of district administration, police and other agencies have brought smiles to the faces of villagers who now see a transformation coming about in their lives.

A camp of security forces was established at Elmagunda around six months back and this has given a fillip to development works.

Bastar Range Inspector General of Police Sundarraj P said that security camps in these remote villages were also acting as integrated development centres.

“On the eve of Independence Day, a significant event took place in Elmagunda village of Sukma district. The households of the village, which was freed from the Naxal activity last year, got electricity connections,” he said.

The senior police official said that security camps in Bastar Range not only perform operational tasks but also facilitate development works like road construction, electrification and opening of PDS shops, schools, anganwadi and health centres in coordination with the local administration.

He said Elamgudna is one of many examples in the last four years where security camps have played the role of a game changer in the lives of the local population.

Sukma Superintendent of Police (SP) Kiran Chavan said security camps have been established to boost the confidence of villagers in restive villages and to eradicate Naxalism.

The official said that electricity in Elamgudna households will give a tremendous boost to development, enable better education of children and help connect the local population with other parts of the state and the country. (ANI)

In His 10th Independence Day Speech, Modi Addresses Countrymen As ‘Parivarjan’

By LokMarg 15th August 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday addressed fellow countrymen as ‘parivarjan’ (family members) on the 77th Independence Day.

For his 10th Independence Day address from the ramparts of the iconic Red Fort, PM Modi carried forward a custom — of wearing colourful turbans — that has become his style statement on this day.

Continuing with his tradition from 2014, PM Modi donned a multicolour Rajasthani bandhani print turban with an off-white kurta and churidar for the Independence Day celebrations.

PM Modi was received by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other dignitaries as he arrived at the Red Fort and began his customary address to the nation after raising the tricolour at the iconic monument.

This year’s Independence Day will culminate the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrations, which were launched by the Prime Minister from Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on March 12, 2021, and will usher the country into the ‘Amrit Kaal’ (golden era).

PM Modi had previously outlined the Centre’s commitment to make India a developed country by 2047, which will be the centenary year of the country’s independence.

The Guard of Honour to PM Modi was commanded by Major Vikas Sangwan. The Army Contingent in the Prime Minister’s Guard was commanded by Major Indrajeet Sachin, the Naval contingent by Lieutenant Commander MV Rahul Raman and the Air Force contingent by Squadron Leader Akash Ganghas. The Delhi Police contingent was commanded by Additional DCP Sandhya Swami.

After inspecting the Guard of Honour, PM Modi proceeded to the ramparts of the Red Fort where he was greeted by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh, Raksha Rajya Mantri Ajay Bhatt, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande, Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral R Hari Kumar, and Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, the Ministry said.

The GoC, Delhi area escorted Prime Minister Modi to the ramparts of the Red Fort to hoist the national flag.

The Army band, comprising one JCO and 20 other ranks, played the National Anthem during the hoisting of the national flag and the presenting of the ‘Rashtriya Salute’.

The Band was conducted by Naib Subedar Jatinder Singh.

Major Nikita Nair and Major Jasmine Kaur assisted PM Modi in hoisting the national flag.

The flag hoisting was followed by a synchronised 21 Gun Salute by the gunners of the elite 8711 Field Battery (Ceremonial). The ceremonial battery was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Vikas Kumar and the Gun Position Officer will be Naib Subedar (AIG) Anoop Singh.

The National Flag Guard, comprising five officers and 128 other ranks from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Delhi Police, presented the Rashtriya Salute at the time of the hoisting of the tricolour by PM Modi. Major Abhinav Detha from the Army was in command of this Inter-Services Guard and Police Guard.

As the national flag was hoisted by the Prime Minister, two Advanced Light Helicopters Mark-III Dhruv of the Indian Air Force, in the Line Astern Formation, showered petals on the Red Fort.

The chopper was commandeered by Wing Commander Amber Agarwal and Squadron Leader Himanshu Sharma. (ANI)

77th I-Day: Delhi Under Tight Security Cordon; Sealed Borders, Anti-Drone Radars

By LokMarg 14th August 2023

Delhi Police has made elaborate security arrangements in the national capital for the 77th Independence Day celebrations.

Over 40,000 security personnel, anti-drone radars, anti-aircraft guns, facial recognition closed circuit TV cameras, and sealed borders are among the security ‘bandobast’ put in place in Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hoist the national flag from the ramparts of the iconic Red Fort on Tuesday morning to a 21-gun salute and then address the nation.

“This time, August 15 is a more sensitive occasion as we have a G-20 meet scheduled three weeks from now in the Indian presidency and the main events will be held in New Delhi,” HGS Dhaliwal, Commissioner of Police of the Special Cell of Delhi Police. India which holds the G20 Presidency this year is hosting the G20 Leaders’ Summit in September this year in the national capital.

“Anti-terror steps are being taken. There are a lot of anti-social elements; in view of that, we are doing whatever the Delhi Police has to do,” the senior police official said.

Previously, Delhi Police had issued an order restricting the flying of para-gliders, para-motors, hang-gliders, UAVs, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), microlight aircraft, remotely piloted aircraft, hot air balloons, small-sized powered aircraft, quadcopters or para-jumping from aircraft in the national capital from July 22 to August 16.

The Delhi Police order said offenders will be punishable under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code.

Expecting a record turnout of around 30,000 attendees, including VIPs and VVIPs, Delhi Police has increased patrolling and checking of vehicles.

Around 1,800 people from different vocations, with their spouses, have been invited from across the country to be a part of the celebrations at Red Fort as Special Guests.

Security planning consists of multi-layered security cover that involves coordination among various security agencies. The National Security Guard (NSG), Special Protection Group (SPG), Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Delhi Police are working together to ensure a safe environment. Paramilitary forces have encircled the Red Fort for a 200-meter radius, while the Delhi Police is taking care of the remaining areas.

Sharpshooters with snipers will be stationed on rooftops in the vicinity of the fort, while helicopters will fly overhead.

The programme is scheduled to commence at 9 am and will continue until noon. Till then, the area will be under complete vigil and strictly a no-fly zone, prohibiting any kind of air balloon, drones and others. Kite-flying will be allowed (above Red Fort) after the culmination of the programme, Delhi Police said.

Moreover, the whole route of PM Modi from Lok Kalyan Marg 7 to Red Fort will be on watch with over 1,000 CCTV cameras.

According to the Delhi Police, the uniformed personnel on the streets are poised to tackle any challenge. “We have received various inputs, based on which adequate measures have been taken,” a senior police officer told ANI.

The borders of the national capital will be sealed tonight, restricting the entry of commercial vehicles, in view of the celebrations of I-Day on Tuesday, and around 3,000 Traffic Police personnel will be deployed across the city to monitor the traffic.

SS Yadav, Special Commissioner of Traffic Police, told ANI that the entry of heavy and medium goods vehicles will be restricted starting tonight and will resume only after the programme ends on Tuesday. Special care is being taken so that the movement of essential services does not get affected.

“On the occasion of the 77th Independence Day, around 3,000 traffic police personnel will be on the streets. The entry of heavy and medium goods vehicles will be restricted on the night of August 14 and will be allowed after the August 15 programme ends. There will be a controlled movement on JLN Marg, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, and parts of Ring Road near Red Fort, with special care being taken that essential services do not get affected,” Yadav told ANI.

He said that police officials will be deployed around the Red Fort and will guide the programme attendees. “There is a parking arrangement for the guests coming to the Red Fort on the occasion of Independence Day, be they common people or diplomats from different countries,” he added.

Joy Tirkey, DCP North East Delhi, said that in view of the August 15 celebrations, thousands of police personnel will be deployed across the district, along with on the borders of the North East district. “All the vehicles will be checked, and the police will keep vigil on every move,” he said. (ANI)