Security arrangements have been significantly heightened across parts of Meghalaya ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah's scheduled visit on October 4 and 5. In anticipation of the high-level movement, the Ri Bhoi district administration has clamped down on low-altitude aerial activities, placing critical transport hubs and transit routes under temporary red and no-fly zones to neutralize security risks.
Umroi Airport and Vital Corridors Placed Under Security Buffer
Under formal directives issued by Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate Dr Abhishek Saini, a strict 5-km protective perimeter has been demarcated around Umroi Airport and all designated landing helipads. Within this radius, the operation of drones and comparable low-altitude devices is completely prohibited. Furthermore, an aerial ban covering a 3-km radius will remain in force around designated official meeting venues, scheduled inspection spots, and halting points.
Ground convoy safety is also being heavily fortified. The order bars any aerial device from operating within 500 metres on either side of designated motorcade paths. These aerial buffers stretch along the National Highway and critical arterial corridors linking Umroi, Umsning, Nongpoh, and border transit locations, shielding the dignitary's movement from potential airborne disruptions.
Comprehensive Ban on Unmanned Aerial Devices and Toy Aircraft
The regulatory clampdown encompasses unmanned aerial vehicles across every category, including remotely piloted aircraft systems, paramotors, paragliders, hang-gliders, hot-air balloons, tethered aerostats, sky lanterns, remote-controlled aero-models, and toy planes. District authorities clarified that the restrictions bind private residents, media teams, commercial service providers, and event managers alike.
The restrictions are scheduled to take effect at 6 am on October 4 and will remain operative through 10 pm on October 5, concluding earlier only if the Union Home Minister departs the district before that window closes. Exceptions are limited strictly to official aerial deployments conducted by the Meghalaya Police, Central Armed Police Forces, special protection units, intelligence teams, or flights explicitly cleared by the Ri Bhoi Superintendent of Police.
Strict Legal Sanctions and Anti-Drone Preparedness
Unauthorized aerial contraptions intercepted within the demarcated zones will be subject to immediate neutralisation or confiscation. Individuals breaching the restrictions risk criminal prosecution under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Violators will additionally face penal provisions set out in the Aircraft Act, 1934, alongside the Drone Rules, 2021.
To ensure widespread compliance and technical enforcement, the Ri Bhoi Superintendent of Police has been instructed to guarantee that these temporary curbs are reflected on the Directorate General of Civil Aviation's DigitalSky portal. Operational units have likewise been tasked with deploying comprehensive anti-drone systems across all key installations throughout the visit.
