“There cannot be unregulated flights – we must know when, where and what they are being flown for,” Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Arup Raha told NDTV.
He, however, clarified no such attempt has yet been made. But intelligence inputs have flagged the possibility of such air-borne attacks.
The IAF has roped in the Civil Aviation Ministry and the Ministry of Home Affairs to deal with this, but is banking on people the most to deal with this threat.
“We will sensitise people to keep a look out such objects,” Air Marshal Raha said.
Earlier addressing reporters in New Delhi, Air Marshal Raha said the “unregulated flights of drones and para-gliders pose a major threat.” The easy availability of para-glider and drones “has added to our worries,” a senior Air Force officer said explaining the growing concern of the IAF.
The Air Chief said that the government will soon be coming with clear guidelines on the civilian use of drones and that of para-gliding as well – a popular sport in some states.
The Air Chief said that local authorities and the nearest IAF bases must be informed about the use of any drones, or para-gliding activity.
This is not the first time that intelligence agencies have warned about an aerial strike. Security agencies had first sounded an alert on the possibility of such an attack after the 26/11 Mumbai attack where terrorists from Pakistan had used the sea route to enter India.
The no fly- zones that are put in place around Rajpath during the Republic Day Parade on January 26 or on August 15 around Red Fort are aimed to prevent an aerial attack. This is, however, the first time that the senior-most commander of the three services – Army, Navy and IAF – has publicly aired his concerns and sought for regulations to govern para-gliding and use of drones.
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