Ranchi: Deputy commissioner Chhavi Ranjan along with the top brass of state police on Sunday supervised the final dress rehearsal for the Republic Day function at Ranchi’s Morhabadi ground, where governor Droupadi Murmu will unfurl the Tricolour on Tuesday. Ranjan said much like the Independence Day function last year, this year’s R-Day, too, will be a low-key affair and celebrated in strict compliance with Covid-19 protocols.
Ranjan said even though the customary parade by different platoons will be conducted, they have decided to do away with cultural programmes and prahbat pheris (processions). “Police, municipal bodies and on-duty magistrates have been briefed about the protocols. The entry of visitors will also be restricted to ensure proper adherence to social distancing norms,” Ranjan said.
Masks will be mandatory for everyone entering the R-Day venue, while provisions for thermal scanning will be made at different entry points, officials said. The governor is expected to arrive at the venue at around 9am on R-Day. As per the convention, the chief minister will unfurl the Tricolour in Dumka, the second capital of the state, on Republic Day while the governor does so in Ranchi.
Asked about the expected turnout, another district official said around 3,000 visitors will be allowed to enter the venue. “We have made seating arrangements for 3,000 people in accordance with social distancing norms,” said an official, adding that parking spaces have been earmarked for visitors while the entry of heavy vehicles in the city will be restricted on that day as per the normal practice.
As many as 10 platoons comprising state police and paramilitary forces will take part in the parade apart from three band parties — JAP 1, JAP-10 and Home Guard. “Hatia ASP Vineet Kumar has been appointed as the first in-command for the platoons for the parade,” said a communiqué from the district administration.
Meanwhile, Ranchi’s Albert Ekka Chowk, a prominent landmark in the state capital named after a 1971 Indo-Pak war martyr and Paramvir Chakra recipient, will also witness flag hoisting ceremony this time. Rashtriya Yuva Shakti, a city-based socio-political outfit, on Sunday said it will organise an R-Day ceremony at the Chowk where Uri martyr Jawra Munda’s wife Jhigi Dungung along with her three minor kids will hoist the national flag.
Uttam Yadav, the central president of the outfit, said, “This time, we have decided to host this programme to pay our tributes to the martyrs of the terror strike in Uri. Two jawans from Jharkhand — Jawra Munda (Khunti) and Niman Kujur (Gumla) — died in the attack. The wife and children of Jawra Munda have given their consent to hoist the flag at Ranchi’s Albert Ekka chowk on January 26.”