In a major security lapse, the CCTV cameras at the highly sensitive Integrated Check-Post (ICP) at Attari have been lying defunct for the past many months. The responsibility of maintenance and operation of the ICP lies with the Land Port Authority of India (LPAI). However, the authorities have allegedly turned a blind eye to this task.
The security of the highly sensitive structure is the responsibility of the Border Security Force (BSF).
Officials of various agencies involved in the ICP, including the Customs and the BSF, had written to the LPAI authorities a number of times, but nothing has been done to replace or repair the defunct CCTV cameras inside the high-security campus.
Since the inception of the ICP in April 2012, a huge amount of trade is being done through it. A large number of trucks carrying goods, especially dry fruit imported from Pakistan, crosses over to India to unload the material there. From here, it is uploaded by the Indian trucks for further designated destinations while Pakistani vehicles return to their territories.
The ICP always remains a target of anti-national elements, especially smugglers based in Pakistan. In view of this, the upgraded security systems should be the prime concern of the authorities responsible. However, this seems not to be the case so far as maintenance of the CCTV cameras is concerned, which is a sensitive equipment to check the suspicious movements of anti-national elements.
An official of the Customs Department revealed that the cameras were lying defunct for the past several months and it had become a little difficult to keep a round-the-clock check on every part of the ICP. He said the Customs officials had apprised the LPAI about the current scenario. The task of maintaining the campus and the CCTV cameras lies with LPAI and we have informed the authorities concerned about the lapse, said a BSF official. He pointed out that the LPAI should take cognisance of this major lapse and do the needful to replace or repair the cameras.
