Vizag police to ramp up drone surveillance

City police enhance surveillance with drones to monitor remote areas, deter unlawful activities, and curb public alcohol consumption.

The city police have intensified efforts to enhance surveillance, particularly on the outskirts of the city, In the wake of a couple of murders.

As part of this, the police are deploying drones to extensively monitor remote areas, with a focus on ‘identifying suspicious movements, deterring unlawful gatherings and curbing consumption of alcohol in public spaces’.

Drones are already being used for aerial surveillance in the city and are playing a critical role in regulating traffic flow and keeping a check on isolated places in the city. In the past three days, the Pendurthi police booked 35 people for consuming alcohol in open places and creating public nuisance.

In a number of cases, victims were lured into isolated or abandoned locations, where they were later attacked or murdered. These incidents have highlighted the vulnerabilities associated with such unsecured areas.

In one particular case reported in February, an astrologer from Pendurthi fell victim to a planned murder. Investigations revealed that a couple had taken the astrologer to an isolated location near Uppada, where they murdered him. A few days ago, a 38-year-old woman was killed by a man at an abandoned layout at Dakamarri.

Commissioner of Police Shankabratha Bagchi said that apart from patrolling officers, the police have been using drone technology not only to monitor suspicious activity but also to act as a preventive measure by increasing visibility and enforcement in vulnerable areas.