In the wake of intelligence inputs that 'anti-social' elements may organise attack through flying objects, the Hyderabad city police on Friday issued orders banning drones, para-gliders and micro-light aircraft from being flown, for a month, starting from November 8.
According to an official order issued by the city police commissioner M Mahendar Reddy, the flying ban was put into place, as there was an increasing trend by event organisers to use remote controlled drones for getting aerial shots or for live telecasts.
The order states that, "No non-government agency, organisation or individual will be allowed to launch Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) or Unmanned Aerial Survey (UAS) among others."
"And whereas, it is necessary that reasonable checks are imposed on activities of such anti social elements in the limits of Hyderabad City Police Commissionerate to prevent the attack through remote controlled drones or through para-gliders or through remotely controlled micro-light aircraft,” the order added.
The police said that they would do a thorough check before granting permission, adding that security clearance from local police and aviation authorities was compulsory, before anyone used a drone.
The order stated that any person not following the rule, was punishable under section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code.
In August this year, the Rachakonda Police booked a case against two persons for flying a drone during an event in Nacharam, after a police constable spotted it being used by a local school.
Addressing media persons, Rachakonda Police Commissioner Mahesh Bhagwat said that the use of drones by civilians has been banned under the jurisdiction of the Commissionerate, since October 2014, but did not seem to stop civilians from flying them without permission.
According to reports, using UAVs requires permissions from several authorities including Director General of Civil Aviation, Air Navigation Service Provider, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Home Affairs among others.