Mumbai Police ban use of drones, paragliders for a month beginning 31 March

Mumbai: To prevent any threat from the skies, the police on Wednesday banned the use of drones and paragliders in the metropolis for a month. The ban will remain in place between 31 March and 29 April, a police notification said. “We issue such orders periodically to avoid any kind of misuse of drones and paragliders,” a senior police official said.

He, however, clarified there has been no specific intelligence inputs about any possible aerial attack on the financial capital. “It is a routine order issued under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure by the police. There is no specific inputs in this regard.

“In the past, too, we have issued orders prohibiting use of drones, paragliders and micro-light aircraft in the city’s skies,” said Ashwini Sanap, Deputy Commissioner of Police, who is handling additional charge of DCP Operations.

Section 144 of the CrPC empowers the police to issue orders in cases of nuisance of apprehended danger. There is no specific law that deals with issues of drones and paragliders in the country so the police temporarily suspend their use by such orders. At a time, the restriction can be issued for only a month after which it has to be reviewed before it can be extended, the police added.