Paragliding banned near defence areas : IAF Plea

Against the backdrop of Pathankot airbase terror strike, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has banned private airborne activity — para-jumping, paragliding and hoisting of air balloons — within a radius of one kilometre of any defence and security installations in the state.
It follows the request of the Indian Air Force (IAF), Police Headquarters, to all district magistrates to restrict “private airborne activity”.
In this regard, a communiqué from the IAF, Police Headquarters (Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu area), was issued on June 2. The IAF apprehends that terrorists could use sub-conventional methods to target IAF, defence and police installations in future.
Invoking provisions of Section 144 of the J&K Criminal Procedure Code, Jammu District Magistrate Simrandeep Singh has ordered the ban on private airborne activity. He said,“it has been brought to my notice that terrorists may use sub-conventional methods to target IAF, defence and police installations in near future.”
The order said, “Such sub-conventional methods include the use of adventure sporting equipment, like paragliders and parachutes. It is imperative to impose restrictions on agencies involved in adventure sports, like parasailing, paragliding.”
The district magistrate ordered that there would be no private airborne activity within a radius of one kilometre of any defence or security installations in Jammu.
“Even otherwise, prior permission of the district magistrate shall be required in case any such activity is to be conducted anywhere in the district. All private agencies involved in such business shall disclose the details, including equipment, to the additional deputy commissioner (law and order), Jammu, within 60 days of the issuance of this order,” the district magistrate said.
He said the sub-divisional magistrates, tehsildars and SHOs in the district would ensure compliance to this order.
Sources said that Udhampur district was also contemplating ban on private airborne activity shortly.
Pertinently, the state administration, on the directions of Governor NN Vohra, had conducted a multi-agency security audit of all vital civil and defence establishments and installations across Jammu and Kashmir.
On January 19, the Governor had said at New Delhi on 7th raising day of NIA that Pathankot terror strike could have been prevented, had lessons been learnt from previous attacks, with focus on securing the international border with Pakistan, which was not yet “well-guarded”.