New Delhi: The Delhi police used drones for the first time to conduct searches at suspected homes in riot-hit Trilokpuri in east Delhi on Tuesday. Two drones were specially acquired from DRDO for this purpose.
Suspicious locations in at least eight sensitive blocks of Trilokpuri were scrutinised with the help of these drones.
In the searches that followed, over 70 bags loaded with bricks, dozens of bottles, knives, rods and a few swords were recovered.
Five so-called “history-sheeters” were also held Tuesday, taking the tally of detained persons to 68.
Sources said the police was on the lookout for at least 10 more individuals for instigating and joining the riots, that erupted on Diwali night after an altercation over a religious structure there.
Joint commissioner of police Sanjay Beniwal said drones were used to avoid any untoward incident.
“The drones proved of immense help in scanning terraces of homes,” he said.
Sources said when several suspicious bags and bottles were spotted lying on terraces, these homes were marked and then a thorough search conducted by a police team.
“This exercise will be repeated on Wednesday, and we expect more such recoveries,” a source said.
Curfew was relaxed for three hours Tuesday afternoon, while tension continued to simmer. The relaxation is likely to be extended further on Wednesday.
