RD Parade: No show for three border-guarding forces this year

Marching contingents of country’s three exclusive border-guarding forces will be missing in action, and also a place in history, as they will not be walking the Rajpath this Republic Day event that showcases the defence and security prowess of the country.

Officials said the contingents of Sino-India border- guarding force ITBP, Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan frontier force SSB, and the largest amongst them-- the BSF, that secures fronts with Pakistan and Bangladesh-- have not been asked to join the preparations till now, despite only about 20 days remaining for the event.

For the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and the Sashastra Seema Bal, the absence will be for the second straight year as their contingents were not included even during the last January 26 event, making it the first time that these two Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) did not participate in the Republic Day parade.