THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Governor Justice (retired) P Sathasivam received the salute at the 68th Republic Day parade held at the Central Stadium here on Thursday. Members from the various Indian Armed forces participated in the march past. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also attended the parade. Major Ambareesh Mahanta of the fourth Battalion of Indian Army’s Bihar Regiment was the parade commander.
Squadron leader Kunal Sarma of the Southern Command of the Indian Air force was the second in command. Members of the Indian Army, Air force, BSF, CRPF, Railway Protection Force, Special Armed Force, Thiruvananthapuram City Armed Reserve Police,India Reserve Battalion ( Scorpion) and Kerala Prison department paraded on the front rows.
Kerala fire force, excise dept, forest department, NCC student police cadets, scouts and guides, state police’s dog squad, mounted police, band teams of the Indian Army, city police and special armed police added glitter to the parade.
The Governor delivered the Republic Day message while students sung the national anthem. Minister K Raju, MLAs B Sathyan, I B Satheesh, V S Sivakuamr, K Muralidharan, O Rajagopal, Mayor V K Prasanth, Chief Secretary S M Vijayanand, DGP Loknath Behra, District Collector S Venkitesapathy and others attended.