DYSFUNCTIONAL OF CCTV CAMERA @ MANY POLICE STATIONS IN KENDRAPARA POLICE DISTRICT(!).

Bureau,Odishabarta

BHUBANESWAR: Dysfunctional of CCTV Camera at  many police stations under Kendrapara Police district according to RTI source from Pradeep Pradhan,Convenor,RTI,Odisha.

As described by Pradhan,CCTV defunct in 50% of  police Stations  of Kendrapara  district.

Though CCTV camera  defunct  in Nikirei Police station  from 28.2.2019, the IIC reported  on 20.7.20 after  one  and half year,SDPO, Pattamundai  has reported  about  dysfunctional of CCTV since one year, SP Kendrapara  has not  taken any steps  to  repair  it(!).

Introduction:  A CCTV (closed-circuit television) system is widely used across the globe.  This system allows the use of videos cameras to monitor the interior and exterior of a property, transmitting the signal to a monitor or set of monitors. It acts as deterrent to criminals and anyone carrying out illegal activities and helps a lot  to Criminal  investigation team  to identify crime  and criminals.   Through surveillance cameras, the police can both prevent crimes from happening and can quickly solve criminal cases with material evidence. In addition, surveillance cameras protect against property theft, and vandalism.Keeping in view, the Home  Deptartment,Govt of Odisha has  taken  up project  of  installing   CCTV camera in various locations  and   at  police  station.

Unfortunately, the CCTV cameras installed  are  seen  defunct in many places  for  months  together.

The purpose  of installation of CCTV camera  has  been defeated  in Kendrapara district.

 On behalf of “Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhijan”(OSAA), RTI Applications have been submitted  to SP office  of many districts   to monitor  functioning  of CCTV camera  and  how it has helped to check the   crime. The  result  is very  disturbing.

Filling of RTI to SP, Kendrapara, Sri Manoranjan Jena ( M- 9777472990) , RTI Activist of Derabishi block of Kendrapara district had filed two RTI Applications dt. 27.5.20 and 29.6.20  in the office  of  Superintendent of Police (SP), Kendrapara  seeking  information about details of installation of CCTV camera in various police stations,  details of  purchase , warrantry of Camera , name of the  organization installed CCTV camera in police stations, date  of reporting to SP about  dysfunctional  of CCTV camera.

In response  to RTI Application dt. 27.5.20., the PIO-cum-IIC, Nikirei Police station reported  on 14.6.20  that CCTV camera  has  been defunct  from 28.2.19 just  before  the  General  Election.On RTI Application  filed  on 29.6.20, the PIO, office  of SP, Kendrapara  provided the  following  information on  7.8.20.

Analysis  of the  information,50% of the  police station do not have  functional CCTV Camera, Many  police stations  do not  report  SP about  dysfunctional  of CCTV camera  for  years  and months together. For an example, the CCTV Cameras’  are  lying  defunct  in Nikirei  Police  Satiation  since  28.2.2019.But  the  IIC, Nikirei  reported  it  to SP, Kendrapara  on 20.7.20  after  one  and  half year. Similarly at  Many  of  police  Station  reported  to SP, Kendrapara  about  dysfunctional of CCTV  just after  filling  RTI  Application dt. 29.6.20. It shows  that  the  IIC of  Police  Stations  do not bother  to  inform SP about  dysfunctional of  CCTV.On 12.3.20, the SDPO, Pattamundai reported  to SP, Kendrapara  that  CCTV has been defunct  since 6 months. Though one year has passed, SP, Kendrapara has not taken any steps  to repair  it  and make CCTV functional. It  is  presumed  that  there  is deliberate  attempt  by  police  stations  to  keep CCTV camera  defunct and the  authority  is also careless  to  make  it  functional.

Input; Pradip Pradhan