Police want CCTV cameras in Panchkula to curb crime

Panchkula (Haryana), Nov 30 : Struggling to keep a tab on the increasing crime rate in this Haryana district, police have asked the local administration to make it mandatory for banks, showrooms and petrol pumps to install CCTV cameras in their premises.

"We have written to the deputy commissioner of Panchkula urging him to direct owners of those properties which involve huge transaction of money everyday to install CCTV cameras. It is a part of our drive to curb the crime rate and nail the culprits," Panchkula Superintendent of Police Manish Chaudhary said here Monday.

"We have identified various sensitive locations of the district and our officials are working all day and night to control the crime rate, which is our first priority. To avoid any discrepancy, we have involved senior ranked officials in daily patrolling," he added.

Chaudhary, who joined as the district police chief Nov 19, is the third to hold the post in the last nine months.

During the last 11 days of Chaudhary's joining, Panchkula has seen five major heists, including robbery of goods worth over Rs.5 million from a showroom and another robbery of Rs.1.8 million at gunpoint from the office of the power distribution agency.

Panchkula, neighbouring state capital Chandigarh, has seen a spate of robberies at banks, showrooms, residences and kidnapping cases in the last few months. In most cases, Panchkula police are still groping in the dark.