Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Apr 4: Taking cue from some incidents including the recent incident at a Balmatta pub, the city police commissioner, Sandeep Patil, has issued strict instructions relating to installation of CCTV cameras. As per the instructions of the state government issued two years back, good quality CCTV cameras have to be compulsorily installed in places where normally over a hundred people come together. In many cases, this rule has not been strictly implemented, and the problem of non-functional, poor quality cameras has rendered them useless.

As per law, places like religious centers, schools and colleges, shops, establishments, banks, offices, hospitals, medical shops, bus stands, railway stations, film theatres, markets, commercial malls, pubs, bars etc need to be fitted with good quality CCTV cameras that are in working condition. But many firms and establishments have not taken care to follow these instructions.

The police department was jolted after friction happened opposite a pub at Balmatta in the recent past. It thereafter convened meeting and issued warning. The station house officers have also been advised to check about the existence and working of CCTV cameras once every month. The cameras should be of good quality with capability to capture proceedings even at night with a capacity to keep recording for a minimum of 30 days.

With the advent of pub culture, the city has been witnessing unsavoury scenes, but in many cases CCTV cameras were found to be not working. In the case of Balmatta pub case too, no recording was available. The police department has got the right to cancel the permits of buildings, bars, pubs etc or lock up or impose fine if they are found to be either not having CCTV cameras or when they are not kept in working condition. The concerned persons need to check on a daily basis about the functioning of the cameras. The station house officers have to check them once a month.

Police commissioner, Sandeep Patil, said that in the city, rule relating to fixing of CCTV cameras has not been followed in many cases. He said these cameras help the police to find out what had happened in case of crimes or disturbing incidents. He said strict instructions have been issued now, police officers have been asked to check presence and working of CCTV cameras once a month, and the bars and pubs which work beyond permitted hours have been warned of stringent punishment.