Drone threats: Authorities impose ban on use of drones in Rajouri
Jammu: Amid heightened security across Jammu and Kashmir after the recent bombing of IAF station by armed drones here, authorities in border district Rajouri on Wednesday ordered ban on the storage, sale or possession and use and transport of the flying machines.
An order issued by District Magistrate, Rajouri, Rajesh Kumar Shavan also directed those having drones or like objects in their possession to deposit the same with local police station.
However, the government agencies using drones for mapping, surveys and surveillance would get the local police station in-charge and executive magistrate informed, Shavan said in his order.
In what was the first instance of Pakistan-based terrorists deploying drones to strike vital installations, two bombs were dropped at the IAF station Jammu in the early hours of Sunday, causing minor injuries to two personnel.
The explosions took place around 1.40 am within six minutes of each other. The first blast ripped off the roof of a single-storey building at the technical area of the airport manned by the IAF in the Satwari area on the outskirts of Jammu. The second one was on the ground.
As per the order, Shavan imposed the ban/restrictions on the storage, sale, possession, use and transport of any drone or small flying objects/flying toys in the district in exercise of powers vested under section 144 of CrPC.
However, those having already the drone cameras/flying objects or toys or like objects in their possession shall get the same deposited with the local Police Station against proper receipt, the order said.
Defending his decision, the district magistrate said it has been observed that anti-national elements are using drones and flying objects to cause damage, injury and risk to the human lives in certain parts of the Union Territory.
Whereas, it has also been noticed that for the last 10-15 years, the domestic use of small drone cameras has also increased in the society for capturing photos and videos in the social and culture gatherings and particularly the youth are more fascinated to have use of drone like toys and electronic gadgets.
Whereas in the current situation to avoid any confusion and to secure the aerial space near the vital installations and highly populated areas, it is rationale and expedient to discontinue the use of any drone/small flying toys/objects in all social and cultural gatherings to eliminate any risk of injury to the life and property, the order said.
Shavan said since it was not possible to serve prior notice, it is, as such, being issued ex-parte.
Any violation of this order shall attract punitive action as warranted under relevant law. The Senior Superintendent of Police, Rajouri shall ensure implementation of this order in letter and spirit, the order read.
Meanwhile, security forces personnel spotted the flying objects at three separate places in Jammu for the fourth consecutive day on Wednesday.
Sources said that drones were seen hovering over Miran Sahib, Kaluchak and Kunjwani areas of Jammu, where military has significant presence, in the wee hours.
“Around 4:40 am one unidentified flying object/drones with the height of 1000 meters were sighted near Goswami enclave Kaluchak and about 4:52 am one flying object/drone was seen near Air Force signal Kunjwani area,” sources said, adding that all the activity was witnessed near defence installations.
In the last four days, at least seven drones have been spotted in and around military installations in Jammu.
Meanwhile, Army, special operation group of Jammu and Kashmir police and other agencies have started investigation of these incidents.
Earlier, in a first of its kind attack, drones were used to drop explosives into the high security technical area of the Jammu airport on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday.
Later, National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the investigation of the attack.
On Monday, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) was seen flying inside the Army base at 11:45 pm and another at 2:40 am.
The UAVs were spotted on a stretch of the Kaluchak-Purmandal road on the Jammu Pathankot national highway.
Officials had said that Army jawans fired at the drones to neutralise them but both the drones flew away.
On Tuesday, similar activity was spotted near Sunjawan Military station.
Sources said that security officials spotted a drone at Kunjwani, Sunjwan and Kaluchak areas of Jammu around 2.30 am. “The drone, however, couldn’t be traced after some time,” they added. (with inputs from KNO)
Press Trust of India
