The Maharashtra State Government has included 24 UAS on a list of equipment being procured for the Mumbai Police Force, according to the Mumbai Mirror newspaper. Funding for the 1.1-billion-rupee ($24 million) programme, which includes other anti-terrorist kit, would be met by the state and central governments.
The city’s police would become the first force in India to deploy UAS. In January India’s Navy announced that it was looking to station a squadron of Israeli-made drones in the northwestern state of Gujarat to help with coastal patrols. A similar squadron has been based in the southern city of Kochi since 2006.
Mumbai police has been heavily criticised for being underequipped and ill-trained to deal with the deadly 2008 attacks on the city. Improving coastal security and modernising the police have been key issues since the attacks, which saw 10 Islamist militants arrive undetected by boat to launch a wave of attacks on high-profile targets in the port city. The gunmen, who hit three luxury hotels, a popular tourist restaurant, the city’s main railway station and a Jewish centre, killing 166 and injuring more than 300, were equipped with the latest technology and powerful weaponry.
In contrast, many Mumbai police officers were armed only with bamboo sticks, had no radio communications or protective body armour. The authorities were also criticised for a lack of co-ordination that hampered the response.