Andhra Pradesh: CC cams in dormitory rooms kick up row

Vijayawada: There was a commotion in a dormitory maintained by Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanam (SDMSD) in old city on Monday when some women devotees noticed CCTV cameras installed in bedrooms and sharing rooms allotted to women.

Women devotees raised objection and demanded immediately removal of CC cameras. A family from Kakinada took a room in the dormitory and opened the door. One of them immediately noticed CC cameras and raised objection over it. The matter was taken to the notice of the Durga temple executive officer A Padma.

The executive officer said the CC cameras were installed when the dormitory was constructed and there was no mala fide intention behind it. She, however, asked the officials to probe whether the CC cameras were functioning or not. On the other hand, the dormitory staff made it clear the CC cameras were not functioning for many months.

They said several people from different areas come to the dormitory and take rooms. They said it was better to keep a vigil during the nights because there is possibility of thefts in the rooms and sharing rooms.

The employees maintained that there was no bad intention in installation of CC cameras. After repeated assurances that the camaras were not functioning, the agitated devotees relented. Temple executive engineer D Bhaskara Rao said there was a separate dress changing rooms for men and women in the dormitory.