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| Only two CCTV cameras functional in Jammu, District level project yet to take off | | Kathua terror attack gives sleepless nights to security agencies | | Asif Iqbal Naik
JAMMU, Mar 31: The Friday's terror attack in Kathua in which two civilians, one army personnel and three militants were killed in a day long encounter has given a sleepless nights to the security agencies in Jammu and Kashmir particularly among the officials of the Jammu and Kashmir Police as the police infrastructure structure of the state lacks teeth to counter such terror attacks without the proper help of army and other security agencies.
As per the sources, after fresh terror inputs from various central agencies with regard to the possibility of Kathua like terror attack during election and festival time, the Jammu and Kashmir Police with the help of CRPF has intensified the security grid particularly in and around the temples as well as around the venues of election rallies and at the venues of election related public meetings.
The sources informed the "Early Times" that keeping in view of Navratra festival, the security threat looms large over the various temples located in the city of temples including Ragunath temple, Bawewali Mata temple, Sukrala Mata temple (Billawar), Chichi Mata temple (Samba), Balasundri temple (Kathua) and other temples of the Jammu region where heavy rush of devotees were seen during these 9 festival days. The sources said that extra security has been deployed at many vulnerable locations in Jammu, besides at holy town of Katra and enroute to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine where thousands of pilgrims visit every day. Special Nakkas, besides police personnel in civic dresses has been put into place in and around the Katra town and enroute Bhawan. Special thrust has been given to CCTV cameras and proper frisking of the personal belongings of the pilgrims.
"We have tighten the security on all routes leading to Katra town and Bhawan--- in case of some CCTV cameras turn non functional, special security arrangement by way of engaging more security personnels were put in place to fill the security gap," said a senior police officer in Katra.
Even though the government of Jammu and Kashmir with the financial help of Ministry of Home Affairs had accorded sanction to the project of installation of Close Circuit Television Cameras (CCTV) in each 190 police stations of the state, but even after one year, the project was yet to be implemented on ground. The said project was sanctioned with the motive to curb the menace of human rights violations in Police Stations and moreover it would add to security of the Police Stations as well. Even State Human Rights Commission in the month of November last year after taking prompt cognizance on the petition filed by Human Rights Activist Deepak Sharma issued notices to Principal Secretary (Home) J&K Government and Director General Police of Jammu and Kashmir to consider the installation of CCTV cameras in all Police Stations of state and to file report in the instant case, but no concrete steps were taken till date by the government.
In another significant development with regard to strengthen of security grid and to keep an eye on anti-national elements in all major towns of the state, the government of Jammu and Kashmir clear the project of installation of CCTV's in major towns and cities of Jammu province some two years back, but like other projects, the same is yet to be implemented on ground.
As per the sources within the Police Department, the delay in installation of CCTV's in many towns of the Jammu province is linger on due to delay in release of an amount of nearly Rs. 50 lacs by the PHQ. The sources added that the department has already purchased the CCTV's and also erect the iron towers for installation of CCTV's a year ago, but the delay was caused due the money demanded by the Power Development Department as electricity equipments charges used for providing electricity connections to these CCTV's towers. The sources added that Kishtwar police take up the issue of the release of said amount with the senior police officials in the month of October last year, who in return send a detail report to PHQ seeking sanctioning of amount so that all the CCTV's will be installed in all major towns and other cities of Jammu province could be made functional, but the clearance on same is yet to be issued by the PHQ. "IGP Jammu after receiving requisition of funds from other Districts of Jammu province writes a joint letter to PHQ in October last for sanctioning of the funds and the same is yet to be released" said a senior police officer in Jammu. The sources added that once the PHQ release the funds, the installation of CCTV's in all major towns and cities of Jammu province will be put on track.
The sources further informed that among over 60 CCTV cameras installed at various locations in Jammu city and its adjoining areas, only two CCTV cameras are functional while all other are defunct since last several months.
It is pertinent to mention here that Government has accorded sanction to the CCTV project so as to keep an eye on anti-national and anti-social elements, besides also on terror related activities. But the delay in implementation of this project has already taken a tool in Kishtwar town which witness worst ever communal clashes on August 9 last year. In case the CCTV's were in place, the culprits involved in Kishtwar violence could have been easily identified as punished, but the government is yet to learn a lesson from its past mistakes and fail to punish the officials involved in delaying the implementation of the said project as any further delay on part of the government could be a suicidal for the peace and tranquility of the state in near future. |
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