Suspected drone spotted over ISRO centre

CISRO Propulsion Complex, which was earlier called the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, is one of the major testing hubs of ISRO. The centre is also involved in developing indigenous cryogenic engines and is one of the critical centres in the country.

The task of protecting the ISRO Propulsion Complex was handed over to CISF.

The centre is situated in the midst of the Mahendragiri hills to which high security is provided. On late Wednesday, a large drone flying close to the hill with blinking lights was sighted by one of the CISF personnel.

The CISF personnel had immediately informed CISF Assistant Commandant, Ajay, who in turn had alerted the ISRO authorities in-charge of the complex. Based on the instructions from the ISRO authorities, the aircraft station located near Kudankulam was alerted to check for any suspicious movement of drones using radar.

Then a complaint was also filed with Panakudi police, who are investigating the incident.

Meanwhile, the forest department officials were also alerted about the incident and the personnel attached to Boothapandi and Kalakad had started the combing operation in the forest areas.

Sources said that the drone spotted at the ISRO complex was not a smaller one used in marriages but was a much larger one which could be operated at few kilometres away from the spot. However, the type of drone could not be ascertained by the CISF personnel.

However, police refute the claims of CISF personnel.

Speaking to Dt Next, Tirunelveli SP, Arun Sakthi Kumar, said that though in the complaint the CISF personnel had said that they had spotted an object and light blinking in it, the investigation had proved that only the light was spotted and no object was seen. The light might have been from an international flight or even from a disco light at some distance, he added