The CCTV cameras, instead of pointing to prison cells where they were supposed to as mandated by the state human rights panel, are now focussed on pictures of freedom fighters
The CCTV cameras, instead of pointing to prison cells where they were supposed to as mandated by the state human rights panel, are now focussed on pictures of freedom fightersu00a0
CCTV cameras that were installed at every police station in the city on the recommendation of the State Human Rights Commission two years ago are now being completely disregarded.
Useless: One of the defunct cameras at the police station. Pic/Sanjay MD
Installed at a cost of over Rs 45 lakh, MiD DAY found that only a handful of the 216 installed cameras work today. We also found that a majority of them, instead of being positioned in a way that they capture essential footage, have been turned around to face photographs of freedom fighters on the wall.
Following several incidents of criminals being subjected to third degree and lock-up deaths, the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) had asked the department to curb violence against criminals in custody. However, when the situation did not improve, the SHRC took steps to check the menace.
The panel, then made a set of recommendations including the installation of 216 CCTV cameras in 2007.
According to the SHRC's recommendations, the cameras should face the lockups and ensure that they capture all that goes on inside the cells. The SHRC thought it would help to minimise police brutality.
On their recommendations, the then police commissioner Ajay Kumar Singh ordered that cameras be installed in every police station. Singh believed that cameras would help police personnel guard criminals and bring down
the instances of inmates escaping.
Following this, every police station got two cameras each to keep a watch on both male and female detainees. The department sanctioned a minimum of Rs 40,000 for every police station (two cameras). At that time, the department, in fact, upped the amount and sanctioned more than Rs 45 lakh to install better-quality cameras. They worked fine until Singh's term was over.
Apparently, no official has checked what condition the CCTVs are in ever since then. Soon after the cameras were installed, some were removed while cleaning and painting of the police stations, while most of those that remained stopped working.
The KSHRC seems to have taken no notice of the situation. Sources revealed that some officials had opposed the installation because cameras might interfere in investigations. They added that some officers also feared that their own illegal activities might be recorded as well.
Nisar Ahmed, Additional Commissioner of Police (administration) said, "I don't know about the CCTVs in stations. I will check and discuss with officers"
SR Naik, President of SHRC was unavailable for comment. "He is currently in Mangalore for some work," said Jeetendranath, his personal secretary.
216 number of cameras installed in the year 2007
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