Independence day celebrated in West Bengal

KOLKATA (INDIA): People across West Bengal today celebrated the 71st Independence Day taking out colourful processions, organising parades and cultural programmes.nnChief Minister Mamata Banerjee unfurled the national Tricolour on Red Road here and received guard of honour from the Kolkata police.nnCultural programmes were held by school children and various artistes at the Red Road venue.nnColourful tableaux depicting various government schemes like Kanyashree, Sabujshree, Khadya Sathi and Sabuj Sathi were also taken out.nnA special tableau on the upcoming FIFA World Cup U-17, which will also be hosted in the city, was also there.nnArtistes performed Chou dance of Jangalmahal, Bairati dance of Coochbehar district and a folk dance of Sundarbans.nnBanerjee awarded the Chief Ministers Police medal for outstanding service to ADG & IGP-CID Dr Rajesh Kumar, Bidhanngar CP Gyanwant Singh and Kolkata Police Additional CP III Supratim Sarkar, and other officers.nnIn the districts, political parties hoisted flags at party offices and organised cultural shows, some of which began from the previous night.nnSecurity has been tightened in the metropolis and bordering districts of West Bengal on the occasion.nnSource: Press Trust of India