NSG 'black cats' commandos, CRPF tableau to be part of upcoming Republic Day parade!

New Delhi, Jan 8: A contingent of the National Security Guard (NSG) 'black cat' commandos and a tableau of the country's largest paramilitary force Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will be part of the upcoming Republic Day parade in New Delhi. 

 

Along with them, marching and band contingents of the Delhi Police, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, and the famed camel-mounted band of the Border Security Force will also be part of the annual parade on January 26 that is going to be curtailed this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

 

 

The NSG commandos, who first came on the Rajpath for this event in 2017, will be making a comeback this year. The commandos, called 'black cats' due to their black-colored overalls and stealth techniques, will be donning their sophisticated weapons like the MP-5 assault rifle, dagger, night vision headgear, bulletproof jackets, and counter-terror equipment like hydraulic lifts and anti-hijacking van 'sherpa'.

 

NSG also provides a sniper and combat security cover to the Republic Day event as part of its "immediate backup support" to secure the Rajpath and its nearby areas. The special force was raised in 1984 as the federal unit to undertake specialist counter-terror, counter-hijack, and hostage rescue operations across the country.

 

Meanwhile, the CRPF tableau will depict the three primary areas of its deployment in the country -- anti-Naxal operations theatre, duties in Jammu and Kashmir, and counter-insurgency duties in the northeast of the country, apart from assisting in various law and order duties like guarding the annual Amaranth Yatra route. The about 3.25 lakh personnel strong force is designated as the lead internal security force of the country.

 

Band personnel of the border guarding force BSF, dressed in their ceremonial regalia and sitting atop caparisoned camels, will play martial tunes and patriotic songs during the parade, like every year. Meanwhile, this 'ship of the desert' contingent first became part of the Republic Day parade in 1976 after it replaced a similar squad of the army which had been participating in the procession since it first took place in 1950. Besides, ITBP will have its troops and band personnel marching one after the other during the parade, they said.

 

The Republic Day parade displays India's military might, rich cultural diversity, and socio-economic progress. However, this year, its duration and the capacity of people who can watch the parade from the ground has been brought down drastically to ensure that COVID-19 related protocols of safe distancing can be better followed.