LAHORE - The Punjab police have been given at least 50 drone cameras for aerial surveillance of hardcore criminals and their hideouts across the province.
Officials said on Tuesday the latest technology would help police ensure close monitoring and aerial surveillance of religious gatherings and processions, particularly in the holy months of Ramazan and Muharram.
A police spokesperson said in order to ensure foolproof security of the participants of religious processions at least 50 drone cameras have been handed over to the police in all districts of the Punjab province. Earlier, the police department had purchased the equipment for aerial surveillance of large gatherings. All the 50 drone cameras are given to the district police on the orders of Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mushtaq Ahmed Sukhera.
According to police officials, one drone camera is given to each district of the province while three drone cameras are given to the Lahore police.
Similarly, three drone cameras are handed over to the Special Branch and one is given to each police training schools, Specialised Protection Unit (SPU), and the Chief Traffic Officers (CTOs) of Lahore and Rawalpindi.
Punjab IGP Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera, in a press statement, said the modern technology would enable the department not only to control crimes but also eliminate terrorism besides keeping an eye on the activities of gangs and most wanted gangsters involved in heinous crimes. The aerial surveillance will also help police ensure best security arrangements for important persons and gatherings, he added in the statement.
Also, the traffic flow and traffic management could be improved with the help of these cameras.
Experts say that with large gatherings and protests, or even when monitoring individuals, it is often difficult to maintain an overview. Such Microdrones can be a useful instrument here, allowing the situation to be viewed from on high. A serious disadvantage of helicopters and planes in surveillance work is the high level of noise which they emit. The highly efficient electric motors developed specially for the Microdrones allows for discrete and almost silent surveillance.