Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) D Gautam Sawang on Monday clarified that drones were used near the residence of Leader of Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu by the Irrigation Department to monitor the intensity of floods and nothing else. Sawang pointed out that the drones were used in the vicinity of Prakasam Barrage and Naidu's residence happened to be nearby.
Two men were taken into preventive custody by the Tadepalli police last week for flying a drone over Naidu’s residence in Undavalli. The police said that TDP workers had restrained the men, citing a security threat to the former Chief Minister. As tension prevailed outside Naidu’s residence, the Tadepalli police intervened and took the two drone operators into custody. The incident triggered a row in the state.
The DGP said that it was a communication gap between local police and Irrigation Department led to the confusion on the ground.
“There is no conspiracy behind the drone incident on August 16. As a part of their duty, Irrigation officials recorded the visuals using a drone camera to estimate the intensity of the flood in Krishna river,” the DGP was quoted as saying.
“As a part of it, a team came near the former Chief Minister’s residence. Security personnel at the residence confronted and questioned the drone pilots and also informed the local police to verify their version. Meanwhile, TDP leaders raised allegations. There is no issue or controversy here but unnecessary political discussions happened,” Sawang told reporters.
The DGP's clarification came hours after a delegation of TDP leaders met Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan over the issue and alleged that Chandrababu Naidu's life was under threat.
They also claimed that the drones should not have been flown over the TDP chief's residence as he was accorded 'Z plus' security.
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