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| Nonfunctional CCTV system: security lapse on part of security agencies | | | Gareeb Dass
Jammu | June 19
Those engaged in strengthening the security grid on the Jammu Railway station and the city of temples seem to have thrown to winds measures that were required to improve the monitoring system.It can happen only in Jammu and Kashmir.The Railways had installed a multiphased close circuit Tvs(CCTVs) on and around the platform where several thousand passengers,including pilgrims,leave or arrive on the platform everyday.It can happen only in the troubled state that for the last several years the entire CCTV system is out of order.The reason is that the system developed a major fault on account of steep power fluctuation.Those heading the crime and Railways have sent a series of communications to the Railways authorities requesting them to set right the CCTV system as it was needed to keep a eye on the movement of militants on and around the railway platform.These requests went in vain.And the former Inspector General Crime and Railways,Dilbagh Singh,travelled to Delhi to sort out the problem.
The problem is there and the threat perception continues to mount day in and day out.The Railways officials blame the company that had installed the machine.The company people hold the Railways responsible for it on the plea that the payment for maintenance of the system had not been released.The Railways are said to have plans of either getting the system repaired or install a new one.Nothing is being done.Possibly the Railways and the security agencies are waiting for some major incident which could bring the concerned agencies out of slumber.And after every incident of violence or militant strike the only thing the Government does and is in a position to do is to sound a red alert with the hope that the red alert will send shivers down the spine of militants.It has never happened and since 1989,when militancy took roots in the state,the red alert sounding has been more pronounced than required.But all this exercise has proved futile.Usually the Government and the security agencies become wise after the event.They plan and replan after each incident and within days they forget to realise the gravity of the sitution.
Mark the difference.In multi-storeyed malls the owners have installed CCTVs which have been functioning for years together.Even if they develop some fault it is rectified within hours.And compare the importance of CCTVs in the malls and those set up on the railway stations or in the cities.The CCTVs in the malls are installed to monitor the activities of burglers and swindlers whereas they monitor the movement of militants in the cities and on the railway stations.This way the Government cannot take the liberty of wasting years on setting the defective CCTVs system in order.Do not blame the Railways only.Blame the agencies that are to monitor the functioning of the CCTVs installed at several sensitive spots in the Jammu city.Most of these machines are faulty.Others fail to work because of frequent power breakdowns and load shedding.If it is so what was the need for investing several crores of rupees on the project.At least the Government and the security agencies should learn a lesson or two from the Army that hs installed sensors on the LOC for monitoring the movement of militants on the border.These sensors have been connected with the generators and the moment power supply is snapped the sensors function with the help of power from the generators.
In the name of security the state Government and the state agencies frequently approach the centre for hudge funds.The centre has always been liberal as it does not want to compromise on security of the state.It is the duty of the state Government to see that whatever security related equipment or gadgets have been installed remain functional round the clock.If the police officers have not been able to get the CCTV system on the Railway station repaired,despite their repeated requests to the concerned central agencies the state Government should have intervened because for any incident the state Government is held responsible.Since Chief Minister,Ghulam Nabi Azad has close relations with several members of the union cabinet he alone can get the CCTV system back on the rails.He can easily prevail upon the Railways Minister,Lalu Prasad Yadav.Once he does it it will not take Yadav more than a week to get the CCTV system on the highly sensitive Jammu Railway station functional.Let the Chief Minister spare a moment of his time for ensuring that all the CCTVs in the city of temples remain functional. |
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