By :- Shruti Tiwari
President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Bareilly on Monday to attend the 11th convocation ceremony of the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI). Her aircraft landed at the Trishul Airbase at approximately 9:50 AM, where she was warmly received by Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
High-Level Dignitaries in Attendance
Alongside the President, other dignitaries present included Jharkhand Governor Santosh Gangwar, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Minister of State for Agriculture Bhagirath Chaudhary.
President Honours Top Students
Braving rain, the President proceeded directly from the airbase to Swami Vivekananda Auditorium within the IVRI campus. During the ceremony, President Murmu personally awarded certificates and gold medals to eight top-performing students from undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs. Notable awardees included:
- Dr. Tanya Chaudhary and Dr. Atul Pratap Singh – Undergraduate Gold Medalists
- Dr. Navjot Singh Thakur, Dr. Selus C.M., and Dr. Khushboo Chaudhary – Postgraduate Honorees
- Dr. Raj Kumar Patel, Dr. Megha Sharma, and Dr. Amita Banu – Doctoral Awardees
576 Degrees Conferred
A total of 576 degrees were awarded during the convocation ceremony, comprising:
- 41 students from the BVSc & AH program
- 328 students from the MVSc program
- 207 doctoral degrees (PhD)
Students were instructed to adhere to a dress code, with male students wearing white kurta-pajama and female students donning white sarees with red borders.
Elaborate Security Arrangements
In view of the President’s visit, the district administration implemented stringent security measures. Four “safe houses” were established at two private medical colleges, the district hospital, and within the IVRI campus to respond to any medical emergencies. Two ALS ambulances were part of the President’s convoy, and all healthcare staff were placed on high alert.
Road Diversions and Traffic Restrictions
Traffic advisories were issued for the public, with road diversions in effect from 4 AM to 4 PM. Entry of both light and heavy vehicles was restricted on multiple routes leading to and from the IVRI campus. Barricades were set up on both sides of the road from the airbase to the event venue, and intersections along the route were decorated with flowers to welcome the dignitaries.
Massive Police Deployment
A force of over 1,200 police personnel was deployed to manage security, crowd control, and traffic. Key officials including ADG Security Raghuveer Lal, ADG Bareilly Zone Ramit Sharma, Commissioner Soumya Agarwal, DIG Ajay Sahni, DM Avinash Singh, and SSP Anurag Arya were involved in overseeing the arrangements.
According to SP City Manush Pareek, security personnel deployed included:
- 5 SPs, 9 ASPs, 18 COs, 55 Inspectors,
- 250 Sub-Inspectors, 700 Constables and Home Guards,
- 300 Women Police Personnel,
- 4 Companies of PAC (Provincial Armed Constabulary)
A Grand Yet Secure Affair
The convocation ceremony proceeded smoothly under tight security and careful planning. The presence of the President, Governor, Chief Minister, and other top leaders highlighted the importance of academic excellence and research in veterinary sciences in India.