All thanks to the reel, the impression of the khaki brigade in India have oscillated between the age-old jeeps, oversized yester-era guns to the special forces' use of high-tech Bond-like gadgets. It seems in reality; Indian police have found a balance.
From keeping surveillance to enforcing law and order, police in India have more often relied on a traditional approach to tackle the outlaws in our country. However, with the time of crisis upon us, the idea of routine has taken a backseat, and our cops have adopted the technology. With the coronavirus pushing many-a-industries into a forced revolution, police in India have not only embraced technology but also have wowed us with innovation in a bid to keep the public indoors.
Instances and videos of drones being deployed by the police have floated onto social media. Tamil Nadu Police took social media by storm after hilarious videos of perpetrators were posted in order to make a point. The videos of people being caught by the Tiruppur Police have left people in splits over Twitter. It was the same case with Kerala police.
The country connects with cricket and Bollywood like nothing else; the Kerala Police used cricket commentary as the voice-over to their social media video to exhibit their effective work. The drone cams also provide glimpses of the State's scenic geographies
Whereas, the following post from Mumbai Police went viral in no time.
Great job! Massive respect for our corona warriors," Neha Thakur, a twitter user, wrote after the Mumbai Police posted a meme featuring Safeena from Gully Boy.
Known for their wit and humour, Mumbai Police have often made the headlines for their eye-catching Twitter posts, however other official accounts have also caught up to this trend by posting witty repartees for the audience. Using pop-culture references, the police Twitter handles in India have found ways to keep the public engaged, as well as aware of the current situation that is upon us.
Even the police forces in the cultural hubs like Kolkata and Pune have engaged well with the audience in the most unique style.
A city known for its art and music, Kolkata Police enthralled several regions in the city with their music. Their twist to Satyajit Ray's Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne track went viral.
Pune is one of the hotbeds of the nation when it comes to the spread of COVID-19. Pune Police's appeal to fool corona for April Fool's Day was well-received.
In the national capital too, drones have made their mark and prevented mass gatherings in several locations. Drones have been instrumental in giving the police a bird's eye view of those who are defying the lockdown and stepping out without a valid permit.
Delhi's Nizamuddin is a hot spot that houses the Tablighi Jamaat headquarters. The civic agencies with support from the police have sprayed disinfectants through drones. The municipal health officer of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation has verified that aerial spraying is better than nozzle as it effectively sanitises the air and destroys any coronavirus particles on surfaces like tin sheds, doors, and walls. Since the disinfectants turn into mist form, it ensures no significant quantity falling on humans to cause any damage.
Birdseye on Dharavi…
In Mumbai, the COVID-19 epicentre of Maharashtra, drones have been deployed to keep a watch at the tricky by-lanes of Dharavi, a region where the virus has been spreading rampantly.
Anant Khedekar, Assistant Police Inspector at Dharavi Police Station, Mumbai, spoke to Sakal Times about using technology to combat the perpetrators.
"Using drones has proven to be very helpful for us because it can tackle everything beginning from shops staying open, people roaming together, and those going against the curfew," he says.
Even though the police used their traditional methods until almost recently, Khedekar tells us that drones have helped in maintaining order in places like Dharavi.
"Dharavi is a congested area, and patrolling is not advisable for the same. However, we are able to keep a watch inside every narrow lane of Dharavi using drones. Despite regular warnings, we see a lot of young crowd venturing out of their homes - but we're able to locate them quickly with the right technology in our hand," he adds.
Does using drones have a drawback? "There is a risk of breaching privacy with drones, but if that is looked after, there's no other drawback we can think of," Khedekar further adds.