JOIN USBuoyed by the successful incorporation of technology in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) during the previous Dasara, the city police will take a step ahead this year for aerial security check. A helicopter, with armed men aboard, will be deployed to keep a check on the city on Jamboo Savari day, the last leg of Nada Habba Dasara.
Police Commissioner M A Saleem told Deccan Herald, on Saturday, it has been decided to utilise copter service, in extension of the hi-tech security measures initiated during the previous year.
By using UAV for constant monitoring of the five km long Jamboo Savari route from the Palace to the torchlight parade grounds in Bannimantap, the city police had succeeded in leading a chaos-free procession.
Said Saleem: “It is not a secret that the whole of public and visitors and also the police personnel will be concentrated on the procession route, while a few are left to look (on security front) into other porous points in the city. In such a situation, security check by air will come in handy”.
The men in the copter will be provided with arms and ammunition, besides binoculars to do a recce. In case of an emergency, they will swing into action, besides alerting others. As the department is devoid of copter facility, it will be rented from outside, the commissioner added.
Instil confidence
The commissioner asserted, use of a copter will act as a deterrent and also instil confidence among the people, about the sentinels ready to strike in case of any untoward incident.
Apart from the UAV, the previous year had also witnessed the deployment of snipers from internal security wing of the State police.
As a result, the police had succeeded in ensuring foolproof security with VIPs like Governor and Chief Minister and a host of their cabinet colleagues among the invitees.
The nine-day Dasara celebrations attract people in hordes every year to the city, calling for intense security measures.
Navaratri celebrations this year will unfold on September 25 and Jamboo Savari, the piece de resistance of the festival, is scheduled for October 4.