Latest news with #LongRangeAcousticDevice
The Hindu
07-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
States all set to conduct mock drills
States across the country prepared to conduct mock drills on Wednesday (May 7, 2025) following the directions of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The drill comes in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack where 26 people were killed. On Wednesday early morning, Indian armed forces hit nine terror infrastructure targets in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) under 'Operation Sindoor', announced the Ministry of Defence. Three civilians were killed and at least seven others were injured as Pakistan resorted to firing and shelling along the Line of Control. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Army continued to violate the ceasefire for the 12th consecutive night by resorting to unprovoked small arms firing along the Line of Control in Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajouri, Mendhar, Naushera, Sunderbani and Akhnoor districts of Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army responded in a proportionate manner, a statement said. Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan on Tuesday reviewed the preparations done by States to test civil defence preparedness in the wake of a 'hostile' situation. States have been asked to submit a report to the MHA after the drills are completed and the identified security gaps will be plugged accordingly, a senior government official said. While the Directorate General, Civil Defence has identified 244 districts in categories I, II and III for the conduct of drills up to the village level based on an assessment done in 2005 and 2010, States have been asked to add to the 'vulnerable areas' list based on their own assessment. An area is designated as civil defence district if there are vital installations such as refinery or a nuclear plant or a cantonment in its geographical limits. The drill will test the efficacy of the operationalisation of air-raid warning signs, crash blackout measures, camouflaging vital installations, evacuation plans, establishing hotline with the Indian Air Force, activating control rooms, firefighting and warden services and undertake cleaning of bunkers and trenches among others. The Anantnag police in South Kashmir issued a public advisory that a mock drill will be conducted at 4 p.m. on Wednesday by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). 'As part of the drill, sirens will be activated at various locations in Kashmir. This is a practice exercise to test our emergency response systems,' the police Delhi, the mock exercise will be conducted at 55 locations from 4-6 p.m. The locations include residential buildings, government offices, markets and colleges. The Delhi Police beefed up security in the national Capital ahead of the scheduled mock drills with increased number of officials being deployed at tourist spots such as Connaught Place, India Gate, Janpath, Gole Market, Jama Masjid, Red Fort. Further, the police headquarters has now been equipped with the Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) to transmit clear messages beyond a kilometre in case of an emergency, an official told The Hindu. The South Central Railway said volunteers, instructors and associated personnel would 'simulate a hostile attack scenario to evaluate emergency preparedness and inter-agency coordination' at Kacheguda (Hyderabad division), Raichur (Guntakal Division) and Aurangabad (Nanded Division) on May 7. In Maharashtra, the drill will be conducted at more than a dozen locations, including Mumbai at 4 drill will be initiated through an 'air-raid' warning that will be passed on through the civil defence channels by the Air Force followed by a mock exercise through simulation of fire incident in a building. The Hindu's Editorials The Hindu's Daily Quiz Which State has begun a survey to assess the socio-economic status of SC/STs? Rajasthan Assam Karnataka Andhra Pradesh To know the answer and to play the full quiz, click here .
India.com
06-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Delhi Police Deploys Long-Range Acoustic Device For Mock Drills: What It Is and Why It Matters?
Civil Defence Mock Drills: As tensions continue to soar at the India-Pakistan border following the Pahalgam terror attack, mock drills are set to be held across several states on Wednesday after the Union Home Ministry ordered all states to conduct mock drills given the "new and complex threats" that have emerged amid the unrest. #WATCH | Delhi Police prepares its LRAD (Long Range Acoustic Device) System for tomorrow's mock drill This device has a range of more than one kilometre and can be used as a hooter to alert the public in case of a sudden attack or as a public announcement system to give a… — ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2025 In preparation for the May 7 mock drills, security has been stepped up in the national capital. As a part of its arrangements, Delhi Police prepares its LRAD (Long Range Acoustic Device) System for tomorrow's mock drill. What Is LRAD? An LRAD (Long-Range Acoustic Device) System has a range of more than one kilometre and can be used as a hooter to alert the public in case of a sudden attack or as a public announcement system to give a message to a large gathering. Similar to the Long-Range Acoustic Device (LRAD), there are two more types of sonic weapons: the Mosquito and the infrasonic weapon. According to an Indian Express report, loud noises by LRAD can cause a sensation of ringing ears, also called tinnitus, which can last for minutes after the exposure or for days. Police have increased day and night patrolling across different areas in the city with a special focus on tourist and market places. Special patrol units have been mobilised to cover key areas, including Connaught Place, India Gate, Janpath, Yashwant Palace, Gole Market and other vital installations. On Tuesday morning, a police team monitored the security arrangements at Connaught Place. Relations between India and Pakistan have witnessed escalating tension following the terror attack in south Kashmir's Pahalgam in which 26 people, mostly tourists, lost their lives. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to pursue the perpetrators and conspirators of the attack to the "ends of the Earth" to inflict punishment on them "beyond their imagination".
Russia Today
30-03-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Russian FSB experts join Serbia ‘sonic weapon' probe
A group of officers from Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has arrived in Serbia and will spend at least a week investigating opposition claims regarding the alleged use of a 'sonic weapon' during mass protests earlier this month, President Aleksandar Vucic confirmed on Saturday. The opposition Freedom and Justice Party (SSP) has accused Serbian security forces of deploying a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) during a major rally in Belgrade on March 15. The allegations were amplified by the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP), a USAID-funded NGO also supported by George Soros' Open Society Foundations. While the government has dismissed the accusations as baseless, it launched a formal probe, pledging to identify and prosecute either those responsible for using the device or those spreading what it called 'blatant lies.' READ MORE: Serbian protesters claim police used 'acoustic weapons' A team of FSB specialists, invited by Belgrade, arrived on Friday evening and began their work Saturday morning, Vucic told the Vecernje Novosti daily. The Russian experts are expected to spend at least seven to eight days inspecting all crowd control devices in the arsenal of Serbia's law enforcement agencies, he added. The FSB team will publicly present its findings at the conclusion of the investigation, Vucic said, expressing hope that the probe will help 'dispel more lies' about the events in the Balkan country. Serbia has seen months of protests sparked by a tragedy in Novi Sad last November, where 16 people were killed when a concrete canopy collapsed at a railway station. What began as student-led demonstrations over government negligence evolved into broader rallies against alleged corruption, culminating in the March 15 protest in Belgrade. Described by some Western outlets as 'probably the biggest' in Serbia's history, the 100,000-strong demonstration resulted in just over 50 injuries and 20 arrests. READ MORE: Serbia facing 'color revolution' – deputy PM The Serbian government has alleged that the US 'deep state' and European intelligence services are fueling the unrest in retaliation for Belgrade's refusal to align with anti-Russian policies. Vucic has previously accused opposition figures of collaborating with Western, Croatian, and Albanian intelligence agencies in an effort to overthrow his administration. Serbia is facing a 'color revolution,' Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin claimed last week during a visit to Moscow. Moscow, meanwhile, has voiced support for Belgrade. 'Russia cherishes its relationship with Serbia and is concerned about the current developments,' said Sergey Shoigu, former defense minister and now secretary of Russia's National Security Council. He added that Serbia can always count on Russian assistance if needed.
Russia Today
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Russia to probe ‘sonic weapon' incident
The Serbian government is preparing for a visit from a group of Russian experts to probe allegations regarding the deployment of a 'sonic weapon' during recent mass protests, Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin has announced. The opposition Freedom and Justice Party (SSP) has accused security forces of utilizing a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD), a crowd-control technology originally designed by the US Navy, which poses a significant risk of hearing damage. The incident occurred on March 15 during mass protests in the capital, Belgrade, which the government has claimed are foreign-instigated efforts to undermine its authority through popular unrest. In an interview with RTS on Wednesday, Vulin rejected the claims that LRAD had been deployed and announced that specialists from Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) will arrive in Serbia to conduct an inquiry. Read more Serbia blames 'US deep state' for mass protests 'Their task is to clarify what transpired. We have nothing to conceal,' Vulin stated, emphasizing Belgrade's commitment to a thorough investigation in hopes of moving beyond the controversy. President Aleksandar Vucic's government has alleged that the US 'deep state' and European intelligence agencies are inciting the wave of protests in retaliation for Serbia's refusal to endorse anti-Russian policies. The EU has insisted that Belgrade align its foreign policy with Brussels, before a Serbian bid to join the bloc could proceed. The ongoing protests stem from a tragic event in Novi Sad last November, where 16 lives were lost due to the collapse of a concrete canopy at a railway station, leading to multiple resignations among senior officials. The demonstration on March 15 represented the peak of the pressure campaign. Claims of the 'sonic weapon' deployment were propagated by the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP), a USAID-funded NGO supported by George Soros' Open Society Foundations.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Like a sound from hell:' Was an illegal sonic weapon used against peaceful protesters in Serbia?
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Ivana Ilic Sunderic had never heard anything quite so alarming and disturbing at a protest as the sound that broke a commemorative silence during a huge anti-government rally in Serbia's capital, Belgrade. 'It was quiet and peaceful and then we heard something we could not see … like a sound rolling toward us, a whiz,' Ilic Sunderic said about the March 15 incident. 'People started rushing for safety toward the pavement, feeling that something was moving toward us down the street." It was 'a subdued sound lasting only 2-3 seconds but very unusual and very frightening, like a sound from hell,' she said. Ilic Sunderic was not alone in describing the panic. Hundreds of others have offered similar accounts, triggering accusations that the police, military or security services under the tight control of authoritarian Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic used an acoustic crowd control weapon to target peaceful protesters. The weapons, which are illegal in Serbia, emit sound waves which can trigger sharp ear pain, disorientation, eardrum ruptures or even irreversible hearing damage. The incident piled more pressure on Vucic, who has been rattled by nearly five months of anti-corruption protests over the collapse in November of a concrete canopy at a railway station in the northern town of Novi Sad that killed 16 people. Serbia's officials have issued often contradictory denials that an acoustic weapon was directed at the demonstrators. Calls have been mounting for answers as to what caused the sudden commotion, if not a sonic device. An Associated Press video shows thousands of protesters holding up their lit mobile phones in silence when they suddenly start running away in panic. A swooshing sound can then be heard. 'I have been going to protests for 30 years but I've never heard anything like this," Ilic Sunderic said. Lies and fabrications A defiant Vucic has rejected what he called 'lies and fabrications' that the security services targeted the demonstrators with a sonic device. He said that such accusations are part of an alleged Western-orchestrated ploy to topple him. 'If there was a single piece of evidence that a sound cannon was used against demonstrators, then I would no longer be president," he said. Serbia's police, army and the state security agency, BIA, initially all denied possessing the U.S.-made Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD), which is illegal in Serbia and some other countries. When presented with photos of the device mounted on an off-road vehicle and deployed at the rally of hundreds of thousands of protesters, officials admitted possessing a sonic weapon, but insisted it was not used against the protesters. The photos showed nothing more than 'loudspeakers" that also are available on eBay, Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said. The rectangular devices, purchased from a U.S. supplier in 2021, serve to emit warnings to the crowds in case of major trouble, he said. 'Serbian police have never, including March 15, used any illegal or unallowed device that is not envisaged by the law, including the device known as a sound cannon," Dacic said. 'Police only use sound devices for warnings.' Sonic weapons use sound waves to incapacitate, disorient or harm individuals by harnessing acoustic energy, causing both physical and psychological effects, such as dizziness, disorientation or severe headaches. Although often described as non-lethal, their use in military, law enforcement and covert operations has raised serious ethical concerns. More recently, sonic devices have been used against Somali pirates as well as migrants in Greece and reportedly in Serbia. Images from the Belgrade protest show what appears to be an LRAD 450XL. The California-based manufacturer, Genasys, said on X that 'the video and audio evidence we have seen and heard thus far does not support the use of an LRAD during the March 15th incident in Belgrade, Serbia.' Hundreds complained of consequences Many who were in the crowd later complained of headaches, confusion, ear pressure or nausea. Sasa Cvrkovic, a 23-year-old political science student from Belgrade, described the sound as a 'jet that flew past like some kind of wind.' He said that it created panic and a brief stampede: 'One young man next to me broke his leg.' Cvrkovic said he felt nauseous all through the day after the demonstration. Ilic Sunderic said she felt pressure in her head and ears. Reports also have emerged of pressure on doctors at Serbia's emergency clinics to withhold records of hundreds of people who sought medical help and advice after the rally. Experts doubt the official version Thomas Withington, an expert in electronic warfare, radar and military communications at the Royal United Services Institute think tank, said he reviewed some of the videos from the Belgrade stampede. 'Extraordinary film of people gathering, protesting in the streets peacefully, the demonstration,' he said in an interview. 'And suddenly, an almost kind of biblical passing of a huge number of people in a very panicked rush, very sudden and very panicked movement, and the likes of which I must confess I've never seen before.' He said it was clear that something caused several hundred people to suddenly panic and move in a very specific way, rushing for cover to the pavement and abandoning the middle of the street. 'So certainly, the behavior that you see on the film does appear to be consistent with people reacting en masse to something that is making them feel deeply unsettled or deeply uncomfortable,' he said. Predrag Petrovic, a research manager at the Belgrade Center for Security Policy, a think tank, said, 'We can claim with huge probability that some unconventional weapon, some version of a sonic cannon, was used.' 'I have a lot of experience in participating and monitoring street protests and I have never seen a stampede happen in a second and along an almost straight line,' Petrovic said. In an online petition signed by over half a million people, the Serbian opposition Move-Change movement asked the United Nations, the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe for an independent investigation. Several Serbian rights groups announced Tuesday they have taken the issue to the European Court of Human Rights, saying that they collected more than 4,000 testimonies from people who complained of various physical and psychological problems after the incident on March 15. The court in Strasbourg has given Serbia until the end of the month to respond, the groups said in a joint statement. Vucic's pro-Russia government, however, invited the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and Russia's Federal Security Service, the FSB, to investigate. There has been no immediate answer from the American and Russian security agencies.
