Drone / UAV threat; Punjab DGP (Intelligence) issue likely aerial target threats in Punjab

Drone / UAV threat; Punjab DGP (Intelligence) issue likely aerial target threats in Punjab

KI Singh/ royalpatiala.in/ Chandigarh

“Punjab Assembly, Courts (High courts and other courts), Airports, railway stations, ASI protected monuments, stock exchanges, jails, residences of VVIP’s, foreign consulate, vital installations, major markets, places of congregation , places , public gatherings , festival gatherings are soft targets for drone /aerial attack “ as per intelligence reports.

Director General of Police (Intelligence) Punjab has issue an advisory to all Commissioners of Police, Senior Superintendents of Police in Punjab with personal attention about the sub-conventional aerial threat in Punjab.

In a letter addressed to all CP’s and SSP’s with a copy to ADGP’s, IGP’s, AIG’s , CID and others mention the  Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), areas that are likely targets of aerial attack , steps to be taken as soon as a Drone is sighted , Immediate measures, Do’s and Don’ts for District Police, Precautions etc .

The letter states that “Hostile drones/ UAV are one of the fastest growing threats, posing serious security concerns. Incidents of terror, crime, swarm and autonomous drone attacks are dramatically increasing worldwide. These threats include drones flying near International border for delivering payload (weapon, contraband etc). Industrial & Defence installations like airports (endangering civilian flights and passengers lives) refineries, Air-force & Military area etc. threat to VVIP during a public rally and so on”.

As per the instructions the threats include the potential use of drone in terrorist incident or attack against a critical infrastructure and soft target. It’s a new medium of smuggling.  It is also a threat to privacy or an electronic attack. It can lead to a VIP, crowd, aircraft targeting.

The police are directed to keep and eagle eye on suspected activities and if they found any unconventional aerial object seen in the air, local police control room and IAF control room must be informed immediately.

Instructing District Police, the letter read “the district police will deploy manpower on rooftops around the sensitive locations/ installations and on the route of VIP movements to prevent anyone from flying the sub-conventional aerial vehicles / RPAS (drones). These personnel shall be equipped with wireless sets, binocular, red flag (size-3’x2’) mounted on a stick and a loud-hailer.”