Republic Day parade: Mumbai Police ban flying activities around Shivaji Park in Dadar

Representative Pic

The Mumbai Police on Tuesday, January 24, declared the Shivaji Park area of Dadar a 'no-fly' zone and issued prohibitory orders on aerial platforms for 24 hours starting midnight on Republic Day.

Police said considering potential security threats, Deputy Commissioner of Police and Executive Magistrate Vishal Thakur, issued an order under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, directing a ban in the vicinity of Shivaji Park Police Station during the Republic Day parade on January 26, 2024.

The order, effective from 00:00 hrs to 24:00 hrs on the specified date, aims to mitigate the risk of terrorist or anti-social elements launching airborne attacks during the parade organized at Shivaji Park in Mumbai's Dadar. The ban is intended to ensure the safety of the large gathering expected at the celebration.

Thakur emphasized the necessity of conducting stringent security checks to thwart any potential threats in the Shivaji Park area during the Republic Day ceremony. The order outlines that any person violating these restrictions will face punishment under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

As a precautionary measure, the order is passed ex parte, and its information will be disseminated to the public through press publications and by posting copies on notice boards across all police stations, SPOs, PSOs, municipal ward offices, and Tehsil and ward offices, it stated.

Ahead of the Republic Day celebrations security has been stepped up across the country. In the national capital, Delhi Police has also imposed a ban on the flying of sub-conventional and aerial platforms in the National Capital Territory of Delhi until further notice.

Delhi Police Commissioner, through an order issued on Monday (January 23), said some criminal and anti-social elements inimical to India may pose a threat to the safety of the general public, dignitaries, and vital installations.

"It has been reported that certain criminal or anti-social elements or terrorists inimical to India may pose a threat to the safety of the general public, dignitaries, and vital Installations by the use of sub-conventional aerial platforms like para-gliders, para-motors, hang gliders, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), unmanned aircraft systems (UASs), micro-light aircraft, remotely piloted aircraft, hot air balloons, small size powered aircraft, quadcopters or even by para-jumping from aircraft, etc," the Commissioner said.