Thieves-friendly CCTV cameras?

Secunderabad: The CCTV cameras on Secunderabad railway station seems to be helping criminals instead of helping the police to nab them as some of the cameras are out of order and in respect of some others, the picture quality is hazy.

In spite of security, at least one chain-snatching, pick-pocketing and attention diversion incident seems to be the order of the day in the railway station that has 10 exit routes, but very few CCTV cameras. A technician in the railway printing press Sandal Kumar, who returned to city on Thursday morning by Chennai Express, lost a handbag containing 13 tolas of gold, Rs 20, 000 in cash, some ATM cards and a mobile phone.

As he was putting the luggage on the platform (No.9), he put his handbag on the berth. An unidentified person decamped with the bag. On a complaint, the GRP police verified CCTV footagebut the image clarity is zero. Of the 86 cameras, 14 are out of order. The footage from other cameras makes it difficult for the police to recognize the criminals because of poor quality. GRP inspector Adireddy found fault with the TTE whom he charged with allowing allowingunidentified persons to board into a/c coaches in the last minute when the train is on the move. Sandal Kumar, who left the city on June 29 for Tanjavur to attend a marriage returned to the city on Thursday only to be greeted with the unsavoury incident.

The CCTV cameras on the front part of the train are okay, but not those behind the train. Another commuter – Phani Kumari - had a taste of similar experience last month when she returned to Secunderabad from Machilipatnam. She returned to her seat from washroom only to find her hand bag containing six tolas of gold missing.

BY Ramesh Valmiki