LEAD: Thai premier chief guest at India's Republic Day celebrations

Jan 26, 2012, 11:36 GMT

New Delhi - India celebrated its 63rd Republic Day Thursday with a military parade and cultural performances in the capital, attended by Thai Premier Yingluck Shinawatra as the guest of honour.

Yingluck, Thailand's first woman premier, joined Pratibha Patil, India's first woman president, who took the salute as the parade marched through a central avenue which links the Presidential Palace and the India Gate.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other Indian leaders were also present at the parade, the main attraction of the national celebrations to commemorate the country's 1950 constitution.

After talks on Wednesday, India and Thailand signed six pacts in areas such as defence and security and agreed to conclude a comprehensive free trade pact by mid-2012.

The military displayed its armoury, including tanks, missile-launchers and drones.

The Agni-IV, India's latest nuclear-capable missile with a range of 3,000 kilometres that was successfully tested last November, drew applause from the public.

Colourful tableaux depicting the diverse culture from Indian states and performances by folk dancers and school children followed the marching troops.

The parade ended with a fly-past by Sukhoi-30 and Jaguar fighter jets.

Security was tightened across India to prevent militant attacks.

More than 25,000 policemen and paramilitary forces were guarding the Indian capital which resembled a virtual fortress with sharpshooters deployed on high-rise buildings, broadcaster NDTV reported.

Tens of thousands of policemen were on duty in cities including financial hub Mumbai, that has been repeatedly targeted by terrorists in recent years.

Separatists in insurgency hit India-administered Kashmir observed a 'Black Day' while Maoist rebels and separatist groups in north-eastern India also called for a boycott of the Republic Day celebrations.

But there were no reports of major attacks or violence. In north-eastern state of Assam, there was panic at a a flag-hoisting ceremony when a bomb was found, IANS news agency reported. The celebrations were held after the bomb was defused by security forces.