After floating tenders to procure first ever helicopter then Remote operating Vehicles (RoVs), the Jammu and Kashmir police is all set to receive the maiden and fresh consignment of Unarmed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to give boost to its aerial surveillance in J&K Union Territory (UT).According to the wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the Jammu and Kashmir police is set to 50 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which is the biggest UAV procurement by the forces so far. “Yes, we are about to get the fresh consignment of UAVs. All formalities have been completed. The project was approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) under the police modernization program 2018-2019,” a top police official, privy to the development said.He said that the tenders were floated by the police headquarters online in October-November 2019 after which the date of submitting claims was extended till December.“The process is almost over and we are about receive the consignment. There is every likelihood that we get the consignment by March 15,” the officer said.As per KNO, the UAVs or drone system, J&K police is procuring, will be of category 3, which is considered the latest and modern technology required by the police especially in Kashmir given its terrain and topography.
Besides dealing in law and order, the Jammu and Kashmir police are also involved in anti-militancy operations. Pertinently, the UAV procurement by the police will take place at a time when the force is already set to get its first ever Helicopter on a two-year lease besides getting other latest equipment for dealing with various kinds of explosives that include Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and bombs. Interestingly, the J&K police has also floated tenders to get Truck Bomb Vessel (TBV), a truck used to diffuse IEDs and other explosives inside the truck (special truck), without causing harm to anybody nearby.Sources in the police told KNO that the police earlier used to seek assistance from army units for using drones. Officials, however, said after the procurement of drones or UAVs, the police will become more tech savvy especially in the Kashmir.“Once the fresh consignment of UAVs arrives, each police district will be laced with the fresh gadget,” he said. The police will now be better equipped to handle not only anti-militancy operations but also protesters. Sources said experts will train a batch of officials to operate these drones. After the curfew like restrictions were imposed in Valley on August 5, forces have used small UAVs and helicopters to keep an eye on the situation and to detect people converging for protests. (KNO)