In view of criminal cases rising here, the Rourkela police have decided to put the city under tight surveillance by installing closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras at strategic locations.
According to information, a decision to this effect was taken after residents expressed strong resentments over increase in criminal cases at a meeting held between the Residents’ Association and police in June, 2014. The association had demanded that CCTV cameras be set up at four different places in the civil township area. In last few months, the city has witnessed a spurt in incidents like dacoity, chain snatching, kidnapping, extortion collection, murder and rape. The police feel it more challenging to check such activities when antisocials from bordering Jharkhand commit crimes in buses and trains and flee from the city.
A total of 200 CCTV cameras would be installed at different places by March-end, sources said. Besides, the police have requested private house owners to focus their house cameras to main road too. The police have so far installed a camera at the Kapur Chowk. Similarly, the Police have urged the Rourkela Steel Plant authority to take adequate steps to install CCTV cameras at Bisra Chowk and other important places. Sources said a survey has been initiated to identify locations for installation of cameras, mostly at important chowks, entry and exit points and market areas.