Bengal cops to get 22kg tear gas drone for crowd management
Times of India | 20 April 2025
123 Kolkata: The Bengal Police successfully tested a 22 kg battery-operated drone-based tear gas launcher, which is likely to be inducted into the Baruipur district police for effective crowd management.
It has a flight time of 40 minutes and requires two operators. If successful, the drone, nicknamed ‘Riot Controller', may be inducted across the state. Several other police forces, like the Coimbatore Police, have already completed trials for this drone. The development comes at a time when the state police is grappling with numerous demonstrations and facing situations where they are grossly outnumbered by the mob. During testing, a group of police personnel posed as a mob, and students who developed the drone dropped a tear gas shell a little away from them. "People, who had gathered at the spot to witness and record the testing, also felt irritation in their eyes. They had to move away," said a police officer.
The drone can carry a 10.5 kg payload. "Mounted with a night vision camera, it can also be used for patrolling at night. It has a range of 2 km. A public address system can be fitted to it for crowd management. There is a plan to install an ink sprayer on the drone to sprinkle ink on rioters for identification," said a source. An ADG level officer stated that this drone would have in-built mike and stun gun facilities.
"Since it will operate from a fair height, it will be a much safer option than using cops on the ground," explained an officer. The police department plans to procure at least six units of the drone in the first phase. The procurement process will begin after the completion of field trials in other districts.