Drone Threat Hovers, Delhi Cops In A Tizzy

Security agencies scramble for advanced tech & training as IGI airport, VVIP zones emerge as major aerial terror targets

- Chayyanika Nigam and Himanshu Mishra

Instances of multiple Pakistan-origin drones dropping heavy arms and ammunition in Punjab have alarmed security agencies not just in the border state but also in the national capital.

Intelligence inputs suggest that terror outfits such as JeM and LeT can use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) not just to drop payloads but also to carry bombs and target crowded areas, dignitaries and vital installations.

“Intelligence agencies have learnt from terror communication intercepts that UAVs can be used for attacks. Conversations on WhatsApp, e-mails, Facebook and Telegram have pointed towards plans of aerial attacks in the city.

They also mention details of recently purchased drones from the online market,” said an official.

The Delhi Police have issued alert and deployed sleuths in strategic locations to thwart any possible terror attack from the skies. "To prevent any untoward incident in the city, the use of flying objects like drones has been restricted by the police," said a Delhi Police official.

“Whenever a drone is spotted, the control room is immediately informed. We then try to find out details such as the owner of the drone. If no information is found, it is immediately shot down,” he said.