KOLKATA: The Chinese consulate in Kolkata has urged visitors to be mindful of local laws and avoid flying drones around the city’s landmarks. The warning comes after a Chinese tourist was arrested on Saturday and sent to eight days’ police custody for flying a drone above the Victoria Memorial premises.Li Zhiwei (34) was apprehended by CISF while taking aerial photos and videos of Victoria Memorial, using a drone. He was handed over to the Hastings police after questioning and subsequently arrested. He was sent to police custody till March 25, after the public prosecutor said his act was a matter of national security and that he couldn’t be let go without proper inquiry. Zhiwei, however, stressed that he was just a tourist. He had used drones in Philippines and Indonesia and was unaware of Indian laws regarding flying drones.“We have reminded Chinese tourists to India to follow the laws and regulations of the country. We have updated the relevant laws and rules on our website, but many are still unaware of them,” a senior Chinese consulate official in Kolkata said. The official added that as per their information, Zhiwei was a tourist and didn’t know about the drone laws in India. “We hope police and court would take the ignorance of the tourist into consideration. We are keeping in touch with the relevant agencies,” said the official.Flying drones has always been prohibited at Victoria Memorial, which is near the Eastern Command headquarters and Fort William. Following Zhiwei’s arrest, the first such incident at Victoria Memorial, the authorities have decided to make people aware of the rules and regulations.“This is the first instance of anyone getting arrested for flying a drone above the premises. The man claimed he was unaware of the rules. We don’t know his intentions yet, but I believe we should put up banners and notices to inform public about the rules regarding drones and other banned items on the premises,” said Jayanta Sengupta, the curator of Victoria Memorial.Sengupta added that every other day, they received requests from photographers and documentary filmmakers seeking permission to use drones there. But they reject them. “Forget drones, even tripods are not allowed on the premises,” he said.

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