Mumbai police sound alert on possible ‘drone’ attacks

While terror experts around the world have pontificated that toy drones would be involved in future terror attacks, the Mumbai police has sounded an alert of a possible terror strike that could be carried out via air through “drones” this month.

A circular issued by the Mumbai Police Commissonerate, a copy of which is in possession with The Asian Age, warns of attacks that could be orchestrated between “October 2 and 31”.

The circular comes in the backdrop of the Uri terror attack and India’s “surgical strikes” beyond the LoC in Pakistan occupied Kashmir last week. The circular has been issued by Mumbai police DCP, Operations, Ashwini Sanap to the city’s 94 police stations, divisional ACPs, DCPs, municipal ward officers, tehshil and ward offices. Despite repeated attempts, Mumbai city commissioner of police Dattatray Padsalgikar was unavailable for comment.

However, Mr Sanap confirmed that a circular had been issued. “Such an attack can happen through unmanned aerial vehicle (UAVs). But the circular is routine and it’s a part of the security precautions the police undertakes to deal with such threats,” Mr Sanap said.

The police warning will not come as a surprise to many, as one can easily source these toy drones from online websites or shops and convert them into ‘flying bombs’. Those agile dinky drones and toy helicopters can easily lift light-weighed C4 plastic explosives that can wreak havoc in crowded places and kill several people.

The circular states that terrorists could carry out attacks with the help of “controlled aerial missiles, remote-controlled micro-light aircrafts, drones and para-gliders”. A senior police officer in the know said that on-duty policemen have been provided with powerful binoculars and asked to keep a hawk’s eye on the city’s skyline from watchtowers. “Drones and aerial objects are visible from a distance. We will have to be vigilant about any flying item that comes in our range,” said a senior police officer on the condition of anonymity.

The circular has asked all the police stations to take some special preventive security measures at some prominent places in their jurisdiction. It also states that any person flying Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) or Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAV) would be booked under section 144 of the CrPC 1973 (Act II of 1974). Also, if any person or police official does not follow the order, then he/she will be punishable under section 188(Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal code.