The Cuddalore district police have embarked on a move to install closed circuit television cameras (CCTVs) in communally sensitive villages and crime-prone areas across the district. The move is aimed at maintaining law and order and keeping a check on criminal activities.
“As many as 60 communally sensitive villages, vulnerable and problematic areas have been identified in the district. In the first phase, CCTVs have been installed at Komavidanthal, Kannadi, Vayalur, Thiruvadigai Oil Mill, Thiruvadigai Vinayagar Temple, Vellakarai and Sedapalayam while the remaining areas will be covered in a phased manner,” said Superintendent of Police P. Saravanan.
Recently, the Puduchathiram police identified the accused involved in the brutal assault of a petrol pump employee through CCTV. Similarly, the accused involved in smashing the windscreens of seven buses in Kadampuliyur near Panruti were identified with the help of the footage.
The CCTVs have become an important source for the police to track the accused involved in crimes, especially in rural areas and solve the cases.
Mr. Saravanan said the decision to install CCTVs was only a precautionary measure. The high-resolution cameras installed at vital locations, including bus stops and road intersections, have been connected to the jurisdictional police stations. The initiative would help the investigating officers to rush to the scene and detect crime with ease.
‘Third eye’
The district has about 763 surveillance cameras installed by resident welfare associations and traders. The police have planned to install around 5,000 CCTVs across the district in a bid to bring the district under the surveillance of the ‘third eye’.
A sum of ₹25 lakh sanctioned by the Cuddalore MP Arunmozhi Devan under the MPLAD Scheme is being utilised for installation of high resolution and automatic cameras. The police have identified 30 locations across the district for installation of surveillance cameras.
The police have installed 36 cameras in 12 locations in Cuddalore town in the first phase. This includes Pudupalayam junction, Cuddalore sub-jail road, Manjakuppam clock tower, Government General Hospital, Sellankuppam Cross Road, Cuddalore Central Prison Road, Rangroop Mahal junction, Thiruvanthipuram-Salaikarai junction, Kammiyanpettai bypass, Uchimedu junction and Periya Kaatupalayam.