Shivamogga police use drones to detect illegal activities in open places

A six-member drone operation team will monitor illegal activities in open areas. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Think twice before you break the law in the open spaces of Shivamoggy, the police might be watching you from where you least expect it. The Shivamogga District Police has taken surveillance to new heights, literally deploying drones to keep an eye on public spaces.

The initiative is already producing results, with two cases of illegal activity reported in recent weeks after drone cameras caught the perpetrators in the act.

Superintendent of Police Shivamogga Nikhil B. has formed a six-member specialized drone operations team comprising an inspector, a sub-inspector and four personnel from the district armed reserves, all of whom have undergone specialized training in drone deployment. They have four drones and currently operate two regularly. The team is equipped with a vehicle and is on standby to respond quickly whenever an alert comes in – either through the police line 112 or through informers on the spot.

“There are chances that the accused will flee before our personnel physically reach the spot. Using drones, we can capture the activity as it happens and record the faces of individuals by lowering the height. Even if we identify one or two of them, we can trace the rest,” said Mr. Nikhil.

On April 28, a drone team, acting on a tip-off, flew under surveillance over a forest area in Kudligere, Bhadravathi taluk, where 19 persons were accused of gambling. In a separate incident, two individuals were caught on camera consuming alcohol in an open area on the outskirts of Shivamogga.

The initiative draws on Mr Nikhil’s earlier experience in Kolar, where an IPS officer first advocated the use of drone cameras for surveillance in 2017. “People are now generally aware of this and gathering for illegal activities in open spaces has reduced considerably,” he said.

Traditionally, police drones in the district have been reserved for large public events and parades. Their regular deployment for day-to-day surveillance and crime detection represents a significant shift in police strategy.

For the night watch

Mr Nikhil made a case for acquiring drones equipped with night vision capabilities, arguing that they would transform night patrolling. “With a drone in hand, an employee on night duty can monitor a much larger area than is possible on foot or by car. It would make work easier and more efficient,” he said.

Published – 21 May 2026 21:00 IST