The Mumbai Police have banned drones, micro-light planes and paragliders in the city for a period of 30 days ending on the 4th of May, reports Business Standard. The police have used Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code to execute the order. The police have cited a terrorist threat as the reason to ban drones during this period. The ban will continue to allow law enforcement agencies to carry out aerial surveillance through microlight aircraft drones. Citizens caught using drones will face up to six months in prison, a fine of Rs 1,000 or both. This is not the first time the Mumbai Police have banned drones; in July last year the agency issued an order banning the use of drones in the city, following an incident where online real estate portal Housing’s employees were allegedly seen flying an unmanned aerial vehicle over Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). Issued under Section 144, the ban lasted from 4th July and 2nd August. Ganesh Chaturthi drone ban: There was a similar situation in September 2014 when Mumbai residents were no longer permitted to fly drones, as the local authority had banned its usage in the city. The cops who had previously prohibited the use of drones till the end of Ganesh festival feared the misuse of drones and extended the ban until regulatory mechanism on the use of drones was established. Mandatory custom declaration: Last month, the Government amended the Customs Baggage Declaration regulations…
