The district police have introduced, for the first time, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to scan Paramakudi and the surrounding areas during the death anniversary of Dalit leader Immanuel Sekaran on Wednesday to prevent any untoward incident.
On Tuesday, T.K.Rajendran, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP-Law and Order), reviewed the security arrangements.
“We are introducing the UAV for the first time in the district to maintain law and order,” Superintendent of Police N.M.Mylvahanan said, adding the camera-fitted vehicle would fly at the height of 60 metres and send live pictures of the entire topography of Paramakudi and its suburbs to the control room set up at the Taluk police station. The remotely-operated vehicle would fly over the town for 45 to 60 minutes before it would be brought down for battery recharge and it would keep flying the whole day, he noted. “This will help us identify and locate mischief mongers, even if they are hiding in water bodies or forest areas,” the SP pointed out.
Mr. Rajendran, accompanied by Inspector General (IG) of Police (South Zone) Abhay Kumar Singh, IG (Internal Security) M.Kannappan, four DIGs and eight SPs, ADSPs and DSPs, reviewed the security arrangements at Paramakudi. At the review meeting held in the afternoon, the ADGP instructed that physical barricades should be placed on all the 14 prohibited routes and police should ensure that those visiting the memorial should not stray into these routes. Later he visited Manamaduari and inspected the security arrangements. He would be camping in Paramakudi and Madurai to monitor the situation, the police said.
Railway security
The Tamil Nadu Railway Police (TNRP), on their part, beefed up security at railway stations and railway crossings by posting pickets at 18 places from Thirupuvanam to Uchipulli railway stations, TNRP Deputy Superintendent of Police C.Vellaiyan said.
Additional security forces had been posted at Mudukalathur, Ponnaiyapuram and Paramakudi railway gates, he said, adding police personnel on two-wheelers would be on patrol between Manamadurai and Sathirakudi. Headed by Superintendent of Police G.Sampath Kumar, more than 200 personnel, including three DSPs, six Inspectors and 27 Sub-Inspectors, had been deployed on security duty, he added.
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) had also deployed about 80 personnel, headed by a commandant.
