After the murder at the posh Lake Town building in Kolkata, where no CCTV camera was installed, the Bidhan Nagar police have decided to take legal action against those high-rises and housing societies that do not install a surveillance system at the entrances. Flouting the commissioner’s order might invite fines and even FIRs.
“The New Town Kolkata Development Authority has made amendments in building rules, making it compulsory to instal closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and security alarms in all buildings constructed on plots measuring 1 acre and above. Now, we are sending a proposal to the Bidhan Nagar Municipal Corporation to implement the rule,” said Bidhan Nagar Police Commissioner, Jawed Shamim. Though the police have been writing to housing societies, insisting that they should follow the basic safety drill, not more than 55% of New Town seem to follow the norms.
The decision to take legal action against violators was taken after Madhu Jain’s murder in the Lake Town Block A building. While the police was sure that the accused had entered the flat between 3.30pm and 4.30pm, they have, so far, failed to zero in on the accused on account of the absence of CCTV cameras. This, even after the police had met the society president after an air-gun firing incident a little less than a year ago.
The police pointed out that even low-end CCTV cameras, which come for Rs 10,000-20,000, serve the basic security purpose. “When divided among residents of a building, it is not a large sum. But it is advisable to install a high-quality camera. The system can be wired or wireless, depending on your budget. Wired cameras are cheaper but wireless ones can be more convenient,” said an officer.
