Comprehensive SOPs issued to security forces to tackle drone threats

The Union Government has issued a Comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure to the security forces to deal with the threat of hostile drones operated by terrorists and subversive elements. “In order to meet the threat from hostile or rogue drones operated by terrorists and subversive elements, Ministry of Home Affairs has on May 10, 2019 issued comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for handling the threat from drones and other sub-conventional aerial platforms in the country” the government informed Rajya Sabha on November 19, in a written reply.

The MHA has issued SOPs to the defence forces

On August 27, 2018, Ministry of Civil Aviation also issued the Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) regarding ‘Requirement for Operation of Civil Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAs/drones)’ in order to regulate and monitor the operation of drones. The MHA issued SOPs to the defence forces and other security agencies of the country and the states, who maintain utmost vigil against the hospital or rogue drones. “The matter is constantly reviewed by concerned authorities and necessary measures are taken for failproof security”, he said.

Amarinder Singh urged Amit Shah to 'handle drone problem'

It was also widely reported that Pakistan based terror outfits were using drones to send in arms and ammunition into the Indian side using the drones. Recently in Punjab, the chief minister of Punjab Captain Amarinder Singh had said that Pakistan had used drones to drop in arms and ammunition from across the border. Captain Singh had urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to “handle drone problem” at the earliest.

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Security agencies taking measures to counter the drone threat

During the last week of September, the police in Punjab had received a large quantity of arms and ammunitions including five AK 47 assault rifles, satellite phones and hand grenades dropped by the drones in the Rajkote village of Tarn Taran district to be retrieved by the terror modules. Security agencies said the drone was fitted with high-end GPS device which dropped the weapons at a location that were fed to them by the GPS. Security agencies in Jammu and Kashmir too have been taking measures to counter the drone threat. The Border Security Forces on the International Border in Jammu region has regularly been holding camps to make the local population aware about the working of the drones and what to do when they spot a drone near the international border.

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