NEW DELHI, Jan 26: India bestowed its highest peacetime gallantry award on Monday on half a dozen security men killed fighting terrorists in Mumbai in November.

Thousands of police and soldiers lined the route of the annual military parade in New Delhi, while the chief guest, Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev, looked on with Indian leaders from a bullet-proof stand.

President Pratibha Patil gave away awards to 11 policemen and soldiers posthumously, including six shot dead fighting terrorists in Mumbai.

The president handed over a citation and a medal to the family members of the security men, while a sombre announcement recalled their “valiant actions and supreme sacrifice”.

“The concerted and well-planned attacks in Mumbai stand out as an example of a ruthless operation undertaken to damage the confidence of India,” Ms Patil said in an address to the nation.

“Countries must own up to their responsibilities,” she said.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh did not attend the celebrations, which showcased the country’s cultural heritage and military might, as he is recovering in hospital after a heart bypass operation last week.

But his cabinet colleagues and opposition politicians attended the parade, watching tanks and armoured cars roll by, fighter jets roar through a misty winter sky in a full fly-past and helicopters hover overhead, showering the crowd of thousands with rose petals.

Colourful floats from each of India’s 29 states wound their way along Rajpath past the VIP stand towards the Red Fort.

The country went on a high alert ahead of the annual military parade in New Delhi, which was turned into a fortress after police killed two suspected militants in a pre-dawn car chase on Sunday just outside the city.

“This year we have more policemen, more anti-aircraft guns and three helicopters ready to fly out with commandoes in case of any emergency,” said Delhi police spokesman Rajan Bhagat.

There were no disruptions to the morning celebrations, but streets were largely deserted. —Agencies