Liquor bars across Kolhapur to be equipped with CCTV cameras

KOLHAPUR: Excise officials have issued instructions to all bars across the district to install CCTV cameras on their premises to keep a check on illegal activities and maintain law and order during the upcoming state assembly elections.
Ganesh Patil, the superintendent of police (excise), Kolhapur, said: “We have issued instructions to bar owners across the district to install CCTV cameras on their premises. They have been asked to enable the system to ensure the data on the CCTV cameras remains for a month.”
“Most of the owners have installed CCTV cameras outside their bars. After we issued instructions, almost 70% of the bars have completed the installation of CCTV cameras. The remaining bars will complete the process in the next three to four days. This will help us keep a check on any illegal activity related to the state assembly elections and also increase vigil inside the bars,” said Patil.
“To ensure that owners install CCTV cameras when they set up new bars, we have asked our personnel to get the cameras checked before completing the certification process when one is applying for the licence of a new bar,” he said.
“The model code of conduct may come into effect soon. As part of our preparations, we have initiated action against illegal activities like smuggling liquor from bordering states into Maharashtra. We have also deployed flying squads to keep a check on such activities,” said Patil.