UP cops to use drones with pepper spray

The Lucknow Police have already placed order to acquire four drones, with capacity of lifting two kg weight.

The Lucknow Police will soon be using drones for everyday policing as their “functional eyes in the sky” that will not only give live feed of an area, but may also shower pepper spray to disperse unruly crowds.

These unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are already in use in various sensitive parts of Uttar Pradesh for taking aerial photographs, and it will be for the first time they will be used to control crowds.

“We are planning to use these drones to control unruly mobs by showering them with pepper spray. This will be less harsh measure than the lathi-charge and we hope it will be more effective,” said Yashasvi Yadav, senior superintendent of police (SSP), Lucknow.

He said, the Lucknow Police have already placed order to acquire four drones, with capacity of lifting two kg weight. The drones will be used on daily basis in maintaining the law and order and identifying traffic violators.

“Earlier, we used the drone cameras for specific purposes. But, these four drones will help us in daily policing like traffic control and taking the live images of any area. They will fly everyday. We will be able to identify people who violate traffic rules,” he said, adding that the Lucknow Police could be the first to acquire drones for such help in daily policing.
The drones cost about Rs 6 lakh each and can fly up to 500 metre high.

Source:: Indian Express