The Panvel City police are now keeping an eye on citizens from the sky as well. With the help of two drones for surveillance since April 22, they have arrested 18 persons for venturing out and assembling during the lockdown. They have also served notices to 14 housing societies on whose terraces residents were seen gathering. The police are also holding surprise visits in housing societies and checking their CCTV footage to make sure there is no crowding or unnecessary movement.

Drones to keep watch

The police had started registering offences against people roaming on roads during the lockdown. But they found that people living in housing societies have started gathering on the terraces. “Our first thought was to keep an eye on containment zones and their narrow lanes. But we found many people gather at terraces as well. So keeping one drone for the surveillance of such zones, we started using the other to keep tabs on societies etc,” said Ajay Kumar Landge, senior inspector of Panvel City police station.