GUWAHATI: The 76th Republic Day celebrations are set to take place across Assam on Sunday, January 26 with the central event scheduled at the Khanapara Veterinary College Playground in Guwahati. Lakshman Prasad Acharya, the Governor of Assam, will ceremonially hoist the national flag during the event.
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The day’s programme will begin with the “Prabhat Geetanjali” at 4:30 AM, followed by the hoisting of the National Flag at government residences, offices, and educational institutions. Invitees and the public are expected to gather at Khanapara by 8:15 AM, with the ceremonial flag hoisting scheduled for 9:00 AM. The event will feature a grand parade, a cultural pageant, and other performances, showcasing the state's rich heritage and diversity.
Other highlights of the day include the distribution of fruits and essentials to inmates of the Central Jail, patients at the State Cancer Institute and Guwahati Medical College, and residents of orphanages and special schools. The day will conclude with the illumination of government and private buildings at 6:30 PM.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will unfurl the tricolour at Dibrugarh, while other ministers and dignitaries will preside over celebrations at different venues across the state.
In light of threats from insurgent groups and the recent recovery of explosives, security arrangements have been heightened throughout Assam to ensure a peaceful Republic Day. The United Liberation Front of Assam-Independent (ULFA-I) and the NSCN/GPRN have called for a “total strike” from midnight to 6 PM on January 26, urging people in Assam, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh to boycott the celebrations.
The state police, along with military intelligence, have intensified efforts to prevent any untoward incidents. A major breakthrough came on January 25 when Assam Police recovered a cache of explosives, including 5 grenades and three detonators, buried in a jungle near Khwbra village in Sonitpur district.
“Based on reliable information regarding the secret storage of illegal arms and ammunition buried underground in the jungle area near Khwbra village, Batashipur, under Dhekiajuli Police Station, a search operation was conducted,” Sonitpur Police stated on X.
One of the grenades, which had a damaged pin or lever, has been kept under guard in a secure location. The bomb disposal squad of the army is being contacted for its disposal.
With the Governor set to unfurl the national flag in Guwahati, special arrangements have been made at the Khanapara venue. CCTV cameras have been installed to monitor activities, complemented by sniffer dogs and a three-layer security system.
Guwahati Police Commissioner Partha Sarathi Mahanta held a high-level review meeting at the Khanapara Veterinary Field on January 17, attended by senior officials, station officers-in-charge, and other personnel. The meeting focused on deploying resources at key locations, including Janata Bhawan, Kalakshetra, and the Kamakhya Temple, to prevent untoward incidents.
Regular vehicle checks and patrolling have been intensified in the city, with police pickets established at major entry and exit points. The River Police are patrolling the Brahmaputra, while the Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) are conducting intensive checks on trains, railway tracks, and bridges, in coordination with district police.
Last year’s Independence Day bomb scare, during which ULFA-I claimed to have planted bombs at 24 locations across Assam, remains a reminder of the threats posed by insurgent groups. Police later recovered bomb-like substances from 10 locations, including four in Guwahati. While the incidents did not result in explosions, they exposed gaps in preparedness and coordination.
The recovery of explosives in Sonitpur highlights the persistent challenges faced by law enforcement agencies, even as they work to ensure a secure environment for the Republic Day celebrations.
Authorities have urged citizens to cooperate by reporting any suspicious activities. With a combination of cultural pride and stringent security measures, Assam is ready to celebrate its 76th Republic Day.