Varanasi: A drone flying over the Kashi Vishwanath Dham complex was disabled by the anti-drone system of the security of the shrine area on Friday evening. It was the second instance of a drone being neutralised since addition of the new anti-drone system in the security equipment and gadgets of this highly sensitive site a month ago.
Providing details of the newly installed anti-drone system to TOI, DCP (Security) Anil Kumar Yadav said, "On Friday evening, a drone was noticed over the shrine area when the security system got activated and neutralised it. After bringing it down near Phool Mandi outside the shrine area, KV Dham security personnel handed it over to Chowk police. Another drone was neutralised about 10 days ago."
Inspector Chowk Vimal Kumar Mishra said after receiving the drone from the KV Dham security, the person flying the drone on Friday evening, a youth from Ghughurani Gali, was identified and was also booked on charges of violating prohibitory orders and breaching peace. The officials said since Kashi Vishwanath Dham, which also houses the Gyanvapi masjid, is a no-drone-flying zone, the anti-drone system was brought in. However, as the localities in the surrounding areas of the shrine area are densely populated and children in many families also have toy drones, a standard operating procedure has been formed, as per which, after neutralising any drone seized, the owner is identified and his credentials are verified and further action is taken based on the findings.