Post News Network
Cuttack, Feb 6: The Commissionerate Police (CP) Thursday launched close circuit television (CCTV) cameras-based surveillance system in Bhubaneswar, but it has not taken steps to initiate the system in the Silver City here.
The CP had identified a few places in the city for installation of CCTV cameras for the launch of the surveillance system six months ago.
CP sources said 114 CCTV cameras had been installed at 28 places in Bhubaneswar under the new system. Besides, a control room has been set up for the purpose.
The system is expected to help the police keep tabs on the movement of anti-social and criminal elements and regulate traffic, the sources added.
Of late, incidents like murder, smuggling of guns and robberies have gone up significantly in the Silver City. According to official data, 27 murder cases had been registered in the city in 2011 while the number of such cases was 36 in 2012, 34 in 2013 and 35 in 2014.
The police have also seized 12 smuggled guns and 63 rounds of bullets in the city in 2011. Similarly, 29 guns and 61 rounds of bullets were seized in 2012 and 40 guns and 73 rounds of bullets in 2013. Security personnel had seized 36 illegal firearms and 128 rounds of bullets in the city last year.
Several gangster groups have been active in the city for long. On occasions, several persons had lost their lives in gang wars.
The police had decided to install CCTV cameras at Badambadi, College Square, Buxibazar, Madhupatna, Choudhury Bazar, Nayasadak and High Court in the first phase to introduce a surveillance system. However, no action has been taken in this regard till now.
“The CP should fix CCTV-based surveillance system in the city at the earliest. It will curb criminal incidents and help security personnel in the investigations,” said Cuttack Surakhya Committee president Saroj Singh.
Ambedkar Smruti Parishad president Sukanta Sethi, however, alleged step-motherly treatment towards the city by the government. “The state government has been ignoring the city for decades. Now, the CCTV surveillance system is the latest example,” Sethi said.
When contacted, deputy commissioner of police Sanjeev Arora said, “The CCTV surveillance system will be in place in Cuttack soon. We have identified sensitive spots to install the CCTVs.”
