Malkajigiri adds another 500 CCTV cameras: No criminal can escape, says CP Mahesh Bhagwat

Hyderabad: CCTV cameras have become a key policing tool in helping cops solve crimes. In January, the Hyderabad and Rachakonda police caught a serial killer with the help of footage from around 500 CCTV cameras. Recently, the police successfully rescued a two-year-old boy 30 hours after he was abducted, again, with the help of CCTV footage.

On 12 April, Rachakonda commissioner of police, Mahesh M. Bhagwat, inaugurated 154 community CCTV cameras in the Malkajigiri police limits at a cost of Rs. 37 lakhs. The cameras were installed at strategic locations covering the entry and exits, main routes and crime-prone areas of the localities. They will be connected to the command control room.

As of Monday, there are 2,007 community CCTV cameras and 30,894 Nenu Saitham cameras in Malkajigiri division. In the recent past, CCTV footage has helped the cops solve snatching cases, house burglaries, and robbery cases.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Bhagwat said CCTV cameras have become an important aspect of modern-day policing and almost 70 per cent of the crimes are being detected with the help of CCTV footages. He urged the citizens and public representatives to come forward and install more cameras in their respective areas. The commissioner said it was a great initiative where the citizens with the help of the police have installed CCTV cameras for the security of all citizens.

The Malkajgiri inspectors conducted meetings and educated the people about the functions of CCTV cameras. Further, with the contribution from locality elders, shop owners, and the MLA funds 154 CCTV cameras in the limits of Malkajgiri police station were also fixed.

Earlier this month, Mr. Bhagwat had inaugurated 146 community CCTV cameras under Nacharam and Uppal police station limits at a cost of Rs. 50 lakhs and on 9 April he had inaugurated 136 CCTV cameras in Keesara and Ankireddypally villages, installed at a cost of Rs. 30 lakhs.