Mumbai: While terror experts around the world have feared that toy drones would be involved in future terror attacks, the Mumbai Police has sounded an alert on 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 of this newspaper, warns of attacks that could be orchestrated between “October 2 and 31”.
The circular comes against 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 Padasalgikar 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’. The 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.
