By IANS,
Bhubaneswar : Orissa Governor Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare Monday took the salute at the Republic Day parade held here amidst tight security even as thousands defied a Maoist call for boycott to participate in celebrations in the insurgency-hit southern and western districts.
After Bhandare hoisted the tricolour, the ceremonial march past was held at the Mahatma Gandhi Marg.
“Nearly 1,000 policemen were deployed in the city to ensure that the celebrations were held peacefully,” a senior police official told IANS.
While Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik took the salute at the Republic Day function in Cuttack, about 26 km from here, his ministerial colleagues unfurled the tricolour in other part of the state.
“The celebrations across the state also passed off peacefully. The security was especially tight in the Maoist infested southern and western districts,” the police official said.
Maoists had circulated leaflets in some districts, calling for a boycott of Republic Day celebrations and asked the residents of some areas to observe a black day.
Despite the threat, thousands of people participated in the official celebrations in the southern and western districts of Malkangiri, Gajapati, Rayagada, Ganjam, Koraput where the rebel have a strong presence, Deputy Inspector General of Police (south-west range) Sanjib Panda told IANS on phone.