A colony that can ‘teach’ cops a lesson on security

A colony that can ‘teach’ cops a lesson on security
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Highlights

A self-help initiative of installing CCTV cameras at Teachers Colony helped the residents to contain crime totally. As many as 32 cameras were installed at key locations to shoo away criminals, especially chain snatchers in the colony.

Vijayawada: A self-help initiative of installing CCTV cameras at Teachers Colony helped the residents to contain crime totally. As many as 32 cameras were installed at key locations to shoo away criminals, especially chain snatchers in the colony.

Highlights:

  • Teachers Colony sets an example for others to emulate
  • Cops have no role except asking for CCTV camera footage to probe into cases

Taking a cue from the colony, three neighbouring colonies viz Vasavi Colony, RTC Colony and Srinagar Colony also installed cameras sending jitters to offenders. The success story of Teachers Colony can inspire others when they happen to have a close look at the colony.

R Amarnath, secretary of Teachers Colony Welfare Association, said that the colony used to face chain snatching and other crimes after its establishment in 1999. It has 150 flats and achieved the distinction of crime-free colony since June 7, 2015 when the then Commissioner of Police B Venkateswarlu switched on CCTV cameras installed by the colony residents.

The colony residents had contributed from their pocket and collected Rs 6.5 lakh for installing the CCTV cameras. The cameras record everything going on in the colony with accessibility to watch the suspects. The colony association executive members watch the cameras from the association hall.

The recordings can be saved for one week. A local cable TV operator helps them in ensuring constant working of the cameras. A technician from NTR Complex attends for any repairs to cameras. There is no involvement of police in the entire process. In fact, the police approach them often to spot suspects when crime happens in the near-by areas outside the colony.

When asked, he said the police have no role to play in the CCTV camera functioning except for occasional visits by policemen from Machavaram and Patamata police stations to get CCTV footage.

Explaining future plans, Amarnath said that they would build a meeting hall with Rs 20 lakh contribution from the residents in the same manner they had installed CCTV cameras. The residents appointed four sanitary staff and salaries would be paid in 60:40 ratio with VMC contributing 40 per cent.

K Papaiah Chowdary, a resident, said that earlier, there were four security guards to look after the colony’s safety. Now, one person makes rounds of the colony, he added.

By Noor Shaik

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