A video of a police officer in Gujarat conducting an aerial survey of Junagarh city on a paraglider has gone viral on social media. It was posted by the Gujarat Police and several other users on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter). The clip has also made its way onto other websites, such as Reddit. The clip shows the police officer using a paramotor, a motorized paraglider powered by a small two-stroke engine strapped to the back of the pilot.
According to the Gujarat Police post on X, they used the paraglider to keep an eye on the Lili Parikrama in Junagarh. It is an annual pilgrimage where devotees move around the spiritually important Mount Girnar in Junagadh district.
The Gujarat Police uses paragliding to effectively monitor the Lili Parikrama in Junagadh. pic.twitter.com/HHl0B18lYo
— Gujarat Police (@GujaratPolice) November 24, 2023
The parikrama is held in the month of Kartik (according to the Hindu calendar), which usually falls in November and starts from the temple of Bhavnath.
The fair attracts around 1 lakh visitors from all over India.
The video that is gaining more and more attention on social media shows how the police officer keeps an eye on the city from his paramotor.
X users liked the idea, but some of them suggested using drones for effective monitoring.
“Wow! Futuristic implementation. Looks like drone policing will happen in the future,” said one user.
“You can provide training as per your requirements. But use drones, a much better option,” said another.
A paramotor is used like a paraglider, where the pilot gets a running start. He then gives the paramotor some throttle via a hand throttle to get lift. Takeoff and landing usually take place in an open field.
There are no formal certification requirements for paramotor pilots, but police officers in Gujarat are trained in how to use the machine.