SRINAGAR: In a first of its kind, the Jammu and Kashmir Police today conducted a test flight of a drone in the deserted Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the summer capital, Srinagar.
The test flight of the unmanned drone assumes significance as it come on the backdrop of unrest in Kashmir valley which has so far claimed 37 lives and rendered injuries to over 2000 people, including security force personnel, in the last five days.
Sources said the drone will be used to carry out surveillance in Lal Chowk and adjoining Maisuma, where security forces and state police personnel, wearing bulletproof jackets, headgear holding weapons remained deployed to strictly implement the curfew restrictions imposed since Saturday.
They said once the drone will be operational in Lal Chowk and adjoining areas, the unmanned aerial vehicle could also be used in other areas as well to carry out surveillance.
However, details about the range and other feature of the drone were not given out citing security reasons.
Prior to this, drones have been deployed to monitor both the short Baltal and traditional Pahalgam routes to holy Amarnath cave shrine.
The monitoring is being done to ensure tight security. Meanwhile, drones have also been used by the traffic police in the twin capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar to study traffic flow and prepare a plan to decongest the roads. (AGENCIES)
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