Trials of UAVs for aerial surveillance to begin from Saturday

New Delhi, Sep 23 (IndiaReport)
In its bid to ensure adequate security, Government will put in place unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to check any untoward incident and provide surveillance at all sports venues of the Commonwealth Games.
Home Ministry officials said the security forces guarding the venues will also start drills to check preparedness of their men and assess the response time from tomorrow.
They said that UAVs will be used during the fortnight-long mega sporting event which will provide round-the-clock intelligence. The trials in this regard would begin from Saturday.
Officials said that about three Israel-made UAVs have been taken for the purpose. The decision assume significance due to intelligence inputs received by central security agencies that Pakistan based Lashkar-e-Taiba has equipped itself with paragliding equipment to carry out air-borne strikes.
The UAVs will be useful to thwart any possibility of aerial attacks by terrorists during the event especially at the time of opening and closing ceremonies, officials claimed.
Over 70 countries are likely to participate in the sporting event scheduled here between October 3 and 14. Delhi Police and central security agencies are striving hard to ensure adequate security for the event, which is being hosted by the country for the first time.
Government expects foreign athletes to reach Games Village and other residential complexes including hotels from September 25."All athletes are likely to reach the national capital well before September 28,"a central security official said.
Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrashekhar has been reviewing the security at all the Commonwealth Games competition and non-competition venues.
To thwart any aerial threat during the Commonwealth Games, about 150 personnel of the Delhi Police&aposs Special Weapons and Tactics Team have been trained by the IAF and the NSG to shoot down suspicious manned and unmanned"flying objects".
Home Minister P Chidambaram today also took stock of the security scenario in a specially convened meeting of officials from Home Ministry, Delhi Police, Organising Committee and central security agencies.
"I assure international athletes that there is fool-proof security for the Commonwealth Games. There is no doubt over it,"Delhi Police Commissioner Y S Dadwal said.
More than one lakh security personnel would be seen in action during the Games including about 175 companies (17,500 personnel) of paramilitary forces, 3,000 commandos, 100 anti-sabotage teams, 200 dogs and 15 bomb disposal squads.