JAMMU, Jan 6: The Jammu and Kashmir Police is all set to get Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and more CCTV cameras for enhanced surveillance system as the process for procurement of the same is nearing completion in next few days.
More than one hundred UAVs or Drones of different specification and thousands of CCTV cameras worth Rs 116 crores are being purchased soon while process is also on for hiring helicopter on lease.
Official sources told the Excelsior that after receiving bids for the UAVs of different specifications, technical evaluation is going on and the procurement order is likely to be placed to the successful bidders by the end of this month.
More than 100 UAVs of different specification will be purchased and placed at the disposal of Sub-Divisional Police Officer level across Jammu and Kashmir for dealing in law and order as well as anti-militancy operations, sources added.
Cost of each UAV will depend upon its specification, such as pay load, accuracy, flight time etc while experts will train a batch of officials to operate these Drones, sources further explained.
Pertinent to mention that the J&K Police so far used to seek assistance from Army units for using Drones. The Army has been using UAVs for a few years in different parts of the Valley and on the Line of Control to track the militant movements in forest areas. The Army has also used small UAVs during encounters in different parts of Kashmir, especially in South Kashmir.
However, after the procurement of UAVs, the J&K Police will become more tech savvy and better equipped to handle not only anti-militancy operations but also the protests which trigger law and order problem.
Further, sources said, the J&K Police has also invited tenders for the procurement of CCTV camera worth Rs 116 crores. The invited tenders are likely to be opened this week and after technical evaluation, purchase order shall be placed to the successful bidder, sources added.