After alert over Pahalgam attack and left with just one working patrol boat, quick-thinking Palghar police use drone to monitor coastline
Balasaheb Patil, superintendent of police, Palghar (fourth from left) and other officials with a drone obtained from the fisheries department at Vadhvan in Palghar on April 27. Pics/Hanif Patel
The Palghar police are the first law enforcers in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region to use drones to carry out patrolling. As a security measure, in the wake of the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, the Palghar police have introduced sea patrolling via unmanned aerial vehicles, due to a shortage of patrol boats.
Following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, the police across the nation have been put on high alert. The cops have been asked to take adequate steps to ensure the safety of citizens on the streets as well as in their respective coastal jurisdictions.
Palghar Superintendent of Police Balasaheb Patil told mid-day that drones have proven highly effective in monitoring the Arabian Sea. The police have received two drones from the state government’s fisheries department, which are helping them detect illegal boats and suspicious activities efficiently. The cops have also hired a team of specialists to operate the drones.
The Palghar police have four patrol boats, but only one is operational. The rest are being repaired. Due to this, the drone technology is being used to monitor the approximately 81-kilometre-long coastline between Virar and Dahanu.
Balasaheb Patil, superintendent of police, Palghar (third from left) and other officials with a drone obtained from the fisheries department at Vadhvan in Palghar on April 27. Pics/Hanif Patel
SP Patil added, “These drones can cover a distance of over 50 nautical miles at sea, and we are effectively monitoring the 81-km stretch. We also keep backup batteries charged every eight hours. These advanced drones can detect boats with ease. We have increased security at the four main points from Virar to Dahanu—Kelva, Dahanu, Satpati, and Dativare—especially after the Pahalgam attack. We’re also receiving support from the Coast Guard and private boats, including those of local fishermen,” he said.
The Palghar police are also expected to receive two advanced patrol boats soon, as funds have been allocated by the government. In addition to the police and Coast Guard, the fisheries department, Maharashtra Maritime Board and the Customs department are also patrolling sea routes. Security has been increased at landing points and coastal posts. Police have also launched a public awareness campaign urging citizens to report any suspicious individuals or activities immediately.
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