Jubilee Hills By-Election: Six Drones Shot Down With Kites

Hyderabad, November 12 (Maxim News): In a bizarre and unprecedented incident, six surveillance drones deployed to monitor polling activities during the Jubilee Hills by-election in Hyderabad were brought down mid-air using kites by unidentified miscreants.

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According to official sources, 139 licensed drone pilots from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu were assigned election monitoring duties to detect irregularities and ensure transparent polling. However, reports indicate that six of these drones were destroyed in four different localities within the constituency — two in Rahmatnagar, two in Karmikanagar, and one each in Mathura Nagar and Shaikpet.

Each drone, valued at around ₹2.5 lakh, was damaged beyond repair, resulting in an estimated loss of ₹15 lakh. Officials said the drones, equipped with high-definition cameras and capable of continuous flight for three hours, were providing live video feeds to a central command centre monitoring polling activity across the area.

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Tension mounted as some drone operators reported being threatened or obstructed while on duty. There were even attempts by unidentified individuals to snatch drones from pilots, raising suspicions that the incidents might have been deliberate attempts to disrupt surveillance or conceal fraudulent voting activities.

The voter turnout in the by-election stood at 48.47%, with counting scheduled for November 14. Exit polls suggest a tight contest between the Congress and BRS, with most surveys indicating a slight edge for the Congress, which could secure victory by a margin of 3% to 8% of votes. (Maxim News)

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