Ahead of PM Modi’s visit, Jammu declared no-drone zone

Arjun Sharma

Jammu, February 18

Jammu district has been made no-fly zone for drones and quadcopters with immediate effect as security arrangements are being tightened across J&K ahead of PM Narendra Modi’s visit on February 20 where he is expected to set the election ball rolling for the UT besides inaugurating some of the key projects.

Jammu District Magistrate Sachin Kumar Vaishya, keeping in view intelligence reports highlighting potential security threats, issued a comprehensive order under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973. The ban order will continue until February 20. It imposes restrictions on drones, remote-controlled micro-light aircrafts, para-gliders, para-motors, hand gliders and hot air balloons within the district. The ban order exempts security forces.

An official informed that the precautionary measure was in place to counter possible activities by terrorist and anti-national elements.

Security has also been strengthened along the Pathankot-Jammu highway as the prestigious project of AIIMS will also be inaugurated by the PM in Samba, located along the highway.

Special security measures have been taken at the MA Stadium in Jammu were the PM will address a rally and likely to talk about the post-Article 370 era and Central Government’s schemes in presence of around 1 lakh people. The rally is the first in series before the Lok Sabha polls. The police and the CRPF are conducting random checking of vehicles. Checkpoints have been set up at various places besides entry and exit points in Jammu and Srinagar.

Security forces are also keeping an eye on Rajouri and Poonch areas which have become hotbed of terrorism during the past sometime. The terrorists behind the ambush of December 21 in Poonch are still on loose. Four soldiers were killed in the ambush in Surankote area.

The PM is also expected to remotely flag off the first train in Sangaldan-Baramulla rail link.

Meanwhile, BJP’s J&K spokesperson YV Sharma said that several steps had been taken under the PM’s leadership for upliftment of the hitherto “forgotten” people, including the refugees from 1947, reservation for the Paharis and other tribals and reservation of seats in the legislature for women.

The Prime Minister will also inaugurate the newly built Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Jammu campus, Jagti.

BS Sahay, Director of the IIM-Jammu, said its new campus in Jagti, which the PM will inaugurate on Tuesday, spans 200 acres and has been built at the cost of Rs 500.91 crore. “It reflects IIM-Jammu’s commitment to providing world-class infrastructure conducive to holistic development of the student. The new campus has been completed in record time, boasting state-of-the-art facilities, including smart classrooms,” he said.