Tracking terror: Balochistan to deploy surveillance drones

[Devil Soul]

Tracking terror: Balochistan to deploy surveillance drones
By Mohammad Zafar
Published: July 12, 2015

Violence-hit province seeks federal govt’s approval for aerial surveillance of criminals. PHOTO: ONLINE

QUETTA: The Balochistan government has decided on aerial surveillance of criminals in an attempt to stabilise the province which has been wracked by ethnic, sectarian and militant violence. It has written a letter to the federal government seeking permission to surveillance drones in the province.

The provincial authorities announced on Saturday that it would purchase drone cameras to monitor the activities of criminals. Officials said the move was a part of the process of using modern equipment to curb terrorism, especially in the provincial capital, which is once again witnessing an uptick in targeted killings and bomb explosions.

Read: Surveillance: District police told to buy drone cameras

Home Secretary Akber Hussain Durrani told The Express Tribune that the government has forwarded a summary to the federal government to seek permission for flying surveillance drones to monitor criminals’ activities. The federation’s approval is a prerequisite for using drones in Pakistan.

“Drone cameras will be highly useful and effective for surveillance of target killers and criminals involved in bombings in the province,” Durrani said. The estimated cost for deploying the system is around Rs1.6 million.

Read: Pakistani drones are for surveillance only: Naveed Qamar

He said special training programmes would be started for the police to train them on how to operate the flying cameras. The government has intensified its action against terrorists and their handlers involved in subversive activities in Quetta, he added.

Following the recent surge in violence in Quetta, the provincial government has already given instructions to install 200 security cameras in different areas of the provincial capital.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 12th, 2015.

 

[Gentelman]

For God's sake buy some drones! Not these quad copters

 

[RescueRanger]

Tracking terror: Balochistan to deploy surveillance drones
By Mohammad Zafar
Published: July 12, 2015

Violence-hit province seeks federal govt’s approval for aerial surveillance of criminals. PHOTO: ONLINE

QUETTA: The Balochistan government has decided on aerial surveillance of criminals in an attempt to stabilise the province which has been wracked by ethnic, sectarian and militant violence. It has written a letter to the federal government seeking permission to surveillance drones in the province.

The provincial authorities announced on Saturday that it would purchase drone cameras to monitor the activities of criminals. Officials said the move was a part of the process of using modern equipment to curb terrorism, especially in the provincial capital, which is once again witnessing an uptick in targeted killings and bomb explosions.

Read: Surveillance: District police told to buy drone cameras

Home Secretary Akber Hussain Durrani told The Express Tribune that the government has forwarded a summary to the federal government to seek permission for flying surveillance drones to monitor criminals’ activities. The federation’s approval is a prerequisite for using drones in Pakistan.

“Drone cameras will be highly useful and effective for surveillance of target killers and criminals involved in bombings in the province,” Durrani said. The estimated cost for deploying the system is around Rs1.6 million.

Read: Pakistani drones are for surveillance only: Naveed Qamar

He said special training programmes would be started for the police to train them on how to operate the flying cameras. The government has intensified its action against terrorists and their handlers involved in subversive activities in Quetta, he added.

Following the recent surge in violence in Quetta, the provincial government has already given instructions to install 200 security cameras in different areas of the provincial capital.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 12th, 2015.

Lol, someone is really making money out of those idiots. How can you call this a drone?
No IR
No FLIR
No Face Recognition
Limited Range
Limited Flight Time

It's not a drone designed for professional use, it's designed for amateur use.

 

[Salik]

Lol, someone is really making money out of those idiots. How can you call this a drone?
No IR
No FLIR
No Face Recognition
Limited Range
Limited Flight Time

It's not a drone designed for professional use, it's designed for amateur use.

Let the people do experiments sir. This is first time tech is being used to check the heck. Field staff know what do they want and need so they can improve with that.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Lol, someone is really making money out of those idiots. How can you call this a drone?
No IR
No FLIR
No Face Recognition
Limited Range
Limited Flight Time

It's not a drone designed for professional use, it's designed for amateur use.

I'm more concerned about the lack of details regarding utilization of these drones as preemptive tools in cities. The government would be better served by installing high tech CCTV cameras around cities if the intention is to monitor activity and identify and track suspects.

Given the state of provincial law enforcement, the best use of surveillance drones is outside cities in identifying hostile camps and groups of combatants prior to attacks.

This just seems like a headline grabbing statement which will have little to no impact on the ground for the purposes being stated,

Let the people do experiments sir. This is first time tech is being used to check the heck. Field staff know what do they want and need so they can improve with that.

This is not about experiments, it's a bad idea unless the intention is to equip the FC with drones for ops outside cities.

How is the police going to determine from a drone whether a couple of guys on motorbikes are going to carry out a target killing or that someone who parked a car or motorbike in a chowk did so with the intent to blow it up?

 

[Dubious]

Let the people do experiments sir. This is first time tech is being used to check the heck. Field staff know what do they want and need so they can improve with that.

Its more like a waste of money actually....

Would have been better if they added some and invested in something better

 

[RescueRanger]

Let the people do experiments sir. This is first time tech is being used to check the heck. Field staff know what do they want and need so they can improve with that.

That's the problem, they really DON'T.

Like the "field people" knew about the Rs. 100 million useless "explosive Detectors":
Rs100m explosive scanners ‘unimpressive’ - The Express Tribune

Or like the "Field" people listened to the technical advisor when he advised the "Khojee" based detectors where nonsense:
Fake bomb detectors sold to Pakistan - thenews.com.pk

A few other gems:

Who can forget the case of how the "field" people as you put it destroyed one of the most impressive less than lethal weapons ever provided to Pakistani police, the Jaycor Tactical Pepperball Launcher and Pistol, these were provided to Islamabad Police prior tot he SAARC meeting in Islamabad and six months down the line the "field" people packed them away and they were never seen again: when they resurfaced the co2 cannisters were damaged and all the ammo was missing. Here is a video of the pepperball system:

The US and Chinese donated thousands and thousands of dollars worth of explosive detection equipment, which was packed up and stored at an unknown location and never seen again... This was meant to be used for Islamabad Police Bomb Squad.

Then in 2008: the American's again donated two large FLIR Camera with mount and Pod to an establishment for interdiction operations. The training for the Cameras was in the US so they Americans invited the establishment to send 2 people for training who can then train the locals.

Instead of sending technically minded field staff, two officers nominated to visit and enjoyed sher/sapata and the camera's were delivered and the officers came back from the US couldn't use the focus feature on the FLIR units and blamed it on some poor sepoy in charge of the kote. ( I witnessed this first hand)

Or another example of how the US donated 15 NVGs to Islamabad Police and how these were thrown in the Kote and never maintained, ultimately the tubes got damaged and they were rendered useless.

I can go on but there is no point, because if they are using the same drones as in the picture. Then those drones are not designed for security forces, those are toys you can buy from Ali Express.

 

[IrbiS]

They should be given to mobile units for close proximity use as they can monitor the are they are about to enter and avoid ambushes.

For area surveillance, get something better with day/night capability.

 

[Salik]

That's the problem, they really DON'T.

Like the "field people" knew about the Rs. 100 million useless "explosive Detectors":
Rs100m explosive scanners ‘unimpressive’ - The Express Tribune

Or like the "Field" people listened to the technical advisor when he advised the "Khojee" based detectors where nonsense:
Fake bomb detectors sold to Pakistan - thenews.com.pk

A few other gems:

Who can forget the case of how the "field" people as you put it destroyed one of the most impressive less than lethal weapons ever provided to Pakistani police, the Jaycor Tactical Pepperball Launcher and Pistol, these were provided to Islamabad Police prior tot he SAARC meeting in Islamabad and six months down the line the "field" people packed them away and they were never seen again: when they resurfaced the co2 cannisters were damaged and all the ammo was missing. Here is a video of the pepperball system:

The US and Chinese donated thousands and thousands of dollars worth of explosive detection equipment, which was packed up and stored at an unknown location and never seen again... This was meant to be used for Islamabad Police Bomb Squad.

Then in 2008: the American's again donated two large FLIR Camera with mount and Pod to an establishment for interdiction operations. The training for the Cameras was in the US so they Americans invited the establishment to send 2 people for training who can then train the locals.

Instead of sending technically minded field staff, two officers nominated to visit and enjoyed sher/sapata and the camera's were delivered and the officers came back from the US couldn't use the focus feature on the FLIR units and blamed it on some poor sepoy in charge of the kote. ( I witnessed this first hand)

Or another example of how the US donated 15 NVGs to Islamabad Police and how these were thrown in the Kote and never maintained, ultimately the tubes got damaged and they were rendered useless.

I can go on but there is no point, because if they are using the same drones as in the picture. Then those drones are not designed for security forces, those are toys you can buy from Ali Express.

Sir it isn't just limited to military equipments, how many buses in Karachi turned into scrap? This is our national behaviour and we're paying its heavy price in shape of terrorism and other rogue elements. Our system badly needs improvement. Why not start surgical op on our system after op ZA.

Regarding the quad copter and explosive scanners, these are our assets. We can use them from north poll to south poll. I mean anywhere, best demonsteration of explosive scanner was on Yaom e Ali when this robot was leading the procession.

Copter can be used in emergency operation like flood relief, site inspection and other uses one can think of.

 

[Jango]

Although I agree with what Rescue Ranger has said above...the pic in the article seems to be a file photo by the news source just to put some shine on the article, that definitely can't be the drone being used for surveillance!

It drifts like hell in a little whiff of wind!!!

 

[Salik]

Still there isn't evidence field staff is taken on board before the preparation of requisition of such equipments.

 

[tarrar]

Armed drones are needed to monitor & bomb invalid activity in the province.