One-and-a-half month after a drone was spotted hovering near Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, Delhi police commissioner Bhim Sain Bassi on Thursday declared a reward of Rs 1 lakh for anyone who would help the police trace the unidentified flying object.
“A drone was seen flying near the runway of IGI Airport on October 27, but no clue about the drone/operator involved in the incident has been found,” a Delhi police statement said, adding, “The Delhi CP, therefore, announces a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh for any person who render any help to trace out and arrest the accused person (s).”
An FIR in connection with the matter was filed at the IGI Airport police station under Sections 3A(b)/4(1), the suppression of unlawful acts against safety of Civil Aviation Act, 1962 & 188 IPC.
On October 27, the CISF and airport security went into a tizzy when personnel of Air Traffic Controllers noticed an “unknown object” flying over the runway. It was a suspected drone which the CISF personnel, responsible for airport security, failed to notice initially. By the time they came to know about the drone and informed the internal control room, the object had disappeared.
Initial reports had suggested that the drone was first noticed when planes were taking off from the runway. A CISF inspector, who was in-charge at the time of the incident, was later suspended for the lapse. A high-level meeting had ensued where top officials of the Intelligence Bureau, the CISF and other departments discussed the matter.
The police officials said that the Central government has taken it as a major security lapse as no agency has any details on the suspected drone till now.
“That is the reason why the Delhi police has declared a cash reward to encourage anyone in the locality or any visitors who saw the drone or could provide them with more details which could help trace the drone or the operator,” said the police officials, adding, “All other necessary security measures are also being taken in connection with the matter.”
