The Delhi Police will procure six drones for maintaining aerial surveillance in all 11 districts in the national Capital. The drones are likely to be deployed to generate images real time warning to the city police in the wake of any terrorist strikes and criminal activities. Drones will also help the police in maintaining vigil in the communally sensitive areas. The Delhi Government has also planned to procure drone to protect its green belt area and forest cover across the city but the proposal has been put on hold.
Sources said that the Delhi Police has empowered its DCPs with powers to purchase drones for air surveillance of their respective areas. The orders to this effect were reportedly passed by Special Commissioner of Police (law and Order) Deepak Mishra. According to sources, drones would be purchased by all the police districts to monitor law and order situation.
The police had used drones during the riots in Trilokpuri last year. “The unmanned aerial vehicles had helped us detect bricks, bottles and other material which the rioters had stored on their roof-tops,” a senior police officer told this newspaper.
The aerial vehicles would not only be used to keep track on big rallies but also keep a watch on the sensitive spots in the city. The number of dark spots in the city has reportedly gone up from about 175 to 350. “The drones will play an important role to keep track over these dark spots,” sources said.
The source said that extreme care would be made to ensure that the drones are not flown along flight routes. The Delhi Police is also going to impart special training to those who would be operating these aerial vehicles.
Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi had cleared a proposal for purchase of six drones about three months ago. The Provision and logistic Department of the force had already submitted its feasibility report on the aerial vehicles.
The police are now in the process of floating tenders for the purchase of the aerial vehicles. There are indications that some foreign companies are also going to give live demonstration of their aerial vehicles in the coming few weeks. A district DCP said: “We will be going for the best available product in the market. There will be no compromise as far as purchase of these aerial vehicles is concerned.”
The use of drones by any private person is not permitted in the city. The police have got standing instructions to shoot down any private drone hovering in any part of the city. In the past, there have been reports that some private persons had been using drones for aerial photography of their parties and marriages. “But if we spot any such aerial vehicle, we have standing instructions to shoot them down,” a SHO of northern range said. “By allowing private use of drones will pose a big security threat as these vehicles can also be used by criminals and other terror outfits.”