Camera drones banned in 2-km radius of G20 Working Group meeting venues

The prohibitory orders issued on Monday by the Pune City Police bans the use of camera drones from January 10 to 20 in a 2-km radius of Senapati Bapat Road and Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), where Working Group Meetings of G20 will be held.

Pune will host an Infrastructure Working Group Meeting on January 16 and 17.

According to an order issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Branch) Raja Ramaswami, nearly 200 delegates from 29 countries and 15 international bodies will be attending G20 meetings in the city. These delegates will be staying at the JW Marriot Hotel on Senapati Bapat Road and will attend the events, to be held at the SPPU and other venues.

The order reads, “The possibility of use of drones by anti-social elements for disturbing law and order cannot be ruled out. The use of drones for a 2-km radius of Senapati Bapat Road and SPPU will be strictly prohibited between January 10 and 20.”

The order is issued under Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, Section 144 and states that anyone found using camera drones in these demarcated areas during this period can be prosecuted under IPC Section 188. CrPC Section 144 empowers public officials to issue orders in urgent cases preempting any law and order issue, while IPC Section 188 pertains to disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant.