RDAY-MAHA-PARADE

Mounted police unit, tableaux part of R-Day parade in Mumbai
    Mumbai, Jan 26 (PTI) A horse-mounted police unit,
introduced in Mumbai after 88 years, and tableaux on various
themes, including environment and wildlife, were part of the
71st Republic Day parade held at Shivaji Park in Dadar here on
Sunday.
    Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari hoisted the
national flag at the official ceremony, where Chief Minister
Uddhav Thackeray, state DGP Subodh Kumar Jaiswal, Mumbai
Police Commissioner Sanjay Barve and others were present.
    Police personnel mounted on 11 horses took part in the
parade.
    The mounted police unit, which would patrol the
streets of the bustling metropolis, had been disbanded in 1932
due to growing vehicular traffic.
    "We introduced the mounted police unit during the
parade. Total 13 horses have been purchased and the police
unit will include one sub-inspector and assistant sub
inspector each and 32 constables. PSI Sagar Shinde is the head
of the unit," DCP Pranay Ashok told PTI later.
    "Horses in the unit can be used for crowd control
during festivals and marches, at beaches and the rider can
keep watch from a good height," he added.
    Platoons of the city police, Traffic Police, Riots
Control Police (RCP), Central Industrial Security Force
(CISF), State Reserve Police Force (SRPF), Coast Guard and
others took part in the parade.
    Tableaux of different units, including the Mumbai Fire
Brigade and the Indian Air Force (IAF), were also presented
during the parade.
    The tableaux highlighted different issues, including
social and environmental. Themes like 'Save Tiger' and 'Save
Water' were presented through them. PTI ZA
NP NP

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)