Law & order: Malerkotla residents see ray of hope following installation of CCTVs

Residents see a ray of hope that the law and order situation here will get better as CCTVs have been installed, under the Safe City Camera installation schemes, at almost all urban localities falling under Malerkotla, Ahmedgarh and Amargarh subdivisions. Control rooms have also been established.

While the control rooms at Malerkotla and Ahmedgarh have become functional, the process of connecting CCTV cameras at Amargarh with the police station is under progress.

Round-the-clock surveillance of inputs of all CCTV cameras, installed at strategic locations, will be done by SHOs and DSPs of the respective circles so that prompt remedial action can be taken.

Residents led by Ahmedgarh Municipal Council president Vikas Krishan Sharma appreciated that cops led by SSP Gagan Ajit Singh had completed installation of CCTV cameras at almost all strategic points after a detailed survey.

“As the city is surrounded by areas falling under three different police districts, most of its localities were vulnerable to the sinister designs of criminals active in these areas. Now, with the police having enhanced live surveillance through the control room, prompt and coordinated action by mobile teams would help nab the miscreants in case of any criminal activity,” Sharma said.

Ahmedgarh is surrounded by localities falling under Ludhiana (Rural), Ludhiana Commissionerate and Khanna Police district, Sharma added.

SSP Gagan Ajit Singh informed that the district police had prepared a draft plan for installing around 300 CCTV cameras at various strategic locations falling under all the three subdivisions and these cameras were supposed to be connected to control rooms established at respective police stations.

Singh claimed that the crime rate had reduced steeply in Malerkotla city followingthe commissioning of the Central Control Room connecting 149 CCTV cameras.

The police expect a similar effect at Ahmedgarh with commissioning of the Control Room at City police station having access to more than 40 surveillance cameras.

Residents believe that enhanced surveillance, besides providing information about illegal activities of antisocial elements will also act as a deterrent against criminal activities.

The development is expected to reduce the number of incidents of snatchings, thefts, violence , eve teasing and drug peddling.