M F AHMAD
Daltonganj, March 30: The Latehar police have pressed in 10 drones during this Ramnavami festival.
Latehar SP Anjani Anjan said today, “We have pressed in 10 drones. Six of these are in the sky under the Balumath police station while the remaining four drones are doing air surveillance over areas under the Latehar police station.”
On being asked that 6 drones are provided to Balumath police station while only 4 for Latehar police station which is the district headquarters, the SP said, “We have done this distribution on the basis of the sensitivity to the locations. Balumath is a highly sensitive place and so we have put in 6 drones for air surveillance.”
The SP further said, “We have evaluated incidents of the last 5 years of the district including Balumath and Latehar and places where any minor scuffle or fracas or low scale clash ever occurred which did not end up in any FIR from any side, we classified those places or police stations as sensitive from communal point of view and this time we have left nothing to chance for peace and harmony.”
“We had conducted a mock drill at Balumath where our boys lobbed 4 tear gas shells only. The lobbing of the tear gas shells had a saluting effect there as I began to get calls from Balumath as to why such a drill is on. I told the callers that we have tools with us that will make you shed tears so the best course is to maintain peace and harmony. They understood what my message was.”
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The Latehar police have just one sophisticated night vision drone only. It has hired 5 more other drones. The SP stated, “We have taken 5 drones on rent.” The anti-riot police are in full gear.
ASP cum SDPO Santosh Kumar Mishra on being contacted said, “We are very alert and vigilant. Our SP is monitoring the situation. The festival is peacefully and smoothly passing off. People’s cooperation is there. We have very strictly warned mischief makers about serious consequences if found indulging in any aberration.”