Madurai
On July 24, DTNext carried a report titled ‘Crimes on the rise in Kovilpatti after CCTV camera shutdown’ in which it was stated that a sub-inspector attached to traffic police did not allow the cameras to function for not giving him a bribe. Following the report, higher officials asked Ashwin Kotnis to look into the issue and set right the CCTV cameras. Kotnis called the owner of the advertising company, Jeba, and heard his grievances. He asked him to install the cameras and assured him that no one would disturb the project.
Jeba has started the work and will complete it by Wednesday. They will be inaugurated on Thursday. Jeba claimed that in addition to the existing 10 CCTV cameras, 12 are being added. Actually SP had asked him to fit 50 CCTV cameras in Kovilpatti and earmarked the locations. He had assured SP that he would instal 35 CCTV cameras. They have a range of up to 80 metres and are infrared cameras. Persons who are well experienced and have already fitted CCTV cameras in Chennai are being brought to fix them. A dedicated control room to monitor the CCTV cameras has been set up in the all-women police stations and will be monitored round the clock.
City residents’ associations up safety quotient
Many residents’ associations across the city have taken initiatives to install CCTV cameras in their locality after the city police’s exhortation to work closely with resident groups to curb crime.
Eight CCTV cameras were installed by the Vivekanadapuram First Street Residents Welfare Association last week in the presence of the police. “There are around 170 members of this association and we collected Rs 500 each from everyone and collected around Rs one lakh. We installed these cameras at strategic points to ensure the safety of the residents,” says Murali, president of the association.
Prior to the installation of the cameras, a meeting was held at Guha Flats presided by the Inspector of Police (Law & Order) of R3 Police Station, K M Muniasamy and other officers and the staff of R3 Police Station. “He gave a detailed presentation on the importance of CCTV and how it helped police nab thieves in the neighbouring Murthy Street,” he further added.
Residents in many localities have taken upon themselves to ensure that their locality is safe after a spate of crime incidents in the city in the past weeks. “Prevention is always better than cure,” says T Gangadaran of Sundara Murthy Vinayagar Koil Street, where 23 CCTV cameras have been installed. The police have been organising interactive meetings with residents’ welfare associations in many localities.
Visit news.dtnext.in to explore our interactive epaper!
Download the DT Next app for more exciting features!
Click here for iOS
Click here for Android