West Bengal: Drones now a vital tool for cops to identify lockdown violators

Jhimli Mukherjee Pandey, Dwaipayan Ghosh & Tamaghna Banerjee | TNN | Apr 21, 2020, 07:31 IST

A shot captured by a drone in Entally shows youths, who had gathered for an adda, fleeing the spot when it flew in

A shot captured by a drone in Entally shows youths, who had gathered for an adda, fleeing the spot when it fle...Read More

KOLKATA: Drones are fast becoming the most vital weapon in the cops’ arsenal to fight Covid-19. The drones are helping cops on both sides of the Hooghly maintain social distancing by penetrating even the narrowest of bylanes.
In Howrah, large stretches of Foreshore Road, Howrah Maidan, Salkia, Pilkhana, Kona Expressway and GR Road have been under constant drone surveillance for the past 96 hours. “We have five drones and each can cover a radius of 7km. These are manned from the ground. The drones send images to cops in vehicles. These are then analysed on screens in the cars. In case of any offence, the violation is relayed to the cops nearest to the spot and offenders are arrested,” explained Kunal Agarwal, commissioner, Howrah Police. The drones played a crucial part in over 700 arrests in past 48 hours.

TimesView

That cops have to go such lengths shows the irresponsibility of a section of citizens. Some sectors are working and it follows that those working in these sectors will have to go out. But others should desist from irresponsible behaviour.

In Kolkata, the police are using drones as a ‘containment weapon’ as well. “We operate drones at low altitudes so that people know they are being watched. Violators are booked based on photographs sent by the drones,” a joint commissioner said. DC (ESD) Ajoy Prasad recalled two instances — one at Entally and another at Phoolbagan — in which offenders fled fearing punishment.
Bidhannagar cops, too, have begun intensive drone surveillance in areas like New Town, Salt Lake, Baguiati, Kestopur and Salt Lake to ensure people don’t loiter outside.