Mangaluru Police makes permission necessary for private drone operators

Expressing security concerns posed by drones, the Mangaluru City Police has made it mandatory for those using the unmanned aerial vehicles to get prior approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and permission from the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law & Order)’s office.

Confirming the same, Mangaluru Police Commissioner N Shashikumar said drone cameras were being frequently used for gathering aerial footage of weddings, protests as well as private programmes. “We have found that some drones are being operated illegally without a unique identification number (UIN) or Unmanned Aircraft Operator Permit (UAOP) issued by the DGCA, which is mandatory. Such drones will be seized and action will be initiated against users,” the city police chief said.