Drone found near Sambhajinagar airport triggers security alert

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: A security scare was triggered at the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar airport on Thursday after the CISF, which is responsible for airport security, spotted a drone lying in bushes close to a watch tower, prompting authorities to register an FIR against an unidentified person for violating prohibitory orders. The incident occurred near watch tower 7 within the airport premises, which is a strictly restricted no-drone zone.Police commissioner Pravin Pawar said, "The airport area is highly sensitive and strict prohibitory orders are in force. Flying drones or using laser beams in this zone is banned. In this casem, we are going to go all out to zero-in on the owner of this drone. Any future violations too will invite stringent action."Pawar had already invoked special powers to ban flying of drones and the use of laser beams and high-intensity lights in and around the airport due to security concerns.The complaint was filed by CISF inspector Dhananjay Kumar Singh, who has been posted at the airport for the past seven months. According to the FIR, Singh was on duty between 5.30am and 1.10pm on Thursday when, around 6.30am, a security personnel stationed at watch tower 7 alerted him about a suspicious object in nearby bushes.Singh, along with another CISF staffer, went to the location and found a silver-coloured "Power Folding Fuselage (Brushless)" drone lying on the ground. The matter was immediately reported to the CISF control room, following which a dog squad was deployed to examine the device. "The drone was found in a switched-off condition. It was later seized and handed over to MIDC Cidco police station," a CISF official said.MIDC Cidco inspector Somnath Jadhav said an FIR has been registered under section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and section 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act. "We are investigating the case and trying to trace the person who operated the drone. Technical analysis is also being carried out. It is important to find out the intentionof flying the drone in restricted and high security area," Jadhav said.Officials are also reviewing CCTV footage from nearby areas to identify the suspect and ascertain the intent behind the act.