Gurugram cops have only one drone to monitor sealed zones, and it’s gathering dust

Bagish Jha | TNN | Updated: Apr 23, 2020, 14:55 IST

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GURUGRAM: From Jammu and Kashmir to Kerala, police and other authorities are extensively using drones to monitor the movement of people and keep an eye on containment zones across the country. Gurugram police, however, have yet not made use of the only drone they have to monitor the Millennium City’s highrises and congested lanes.
While even rural parts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala are deploying drones observe to large areas without physical engagement, Gurugram — the second biggest technology hub in India with the offices of several global and India technology companies — has just one camera fitted-drone in its possession for police, which has rarely been used since it was purchased a few years ago. There is no proposal to acquire additional drones either, a response to an RTI query filed by city-based businessman and activist Aseem Takyar has revealed.
On the other hand, Delhi Police have a total of 12 camera-equipped drones which they are using for surveillance and public announcements, mostly in narrow and congested lanes. Noida, which has no drones of its own, has engaged private players and is currently using six drones for surveillance.
In the first week of March, when coronavirus cases were on rise in the country, the Bureau of Police Research and Development, a police thinktank under the Union home ministry, organised the third edition of the Young Superintendents of Police Conference in Gurugram in association with Haryana police. The three-day event focused on the uses of advanced technology in policing. “Ironically, Gurugram police, which was hosting the event, is lagging in use of technology like drones in this critical time, when police in other states have found them very useful,” Takyar said.
Amit Mishra, who works with a global IT giant in the city, said drones can have several uses in such times. “Along with surveillance, police can delpoy drones equipped with loudspeakers for public announcements, particularly in containment zones,” he said.
So why aren’t city police using drones? Commissioner of police Mohammad Akil said so far, people have cooperated with police and there has been no incident of resistance to police measures. “Besides, Gurugram has easy availability of drones. If required, we can engage several drones. People have cooperated with us so far. We hope they continue to do so, and police don’t require taking any additional measures,” he said.