Do you know how many police cameras are watching you on Mangaluru roads? Here are the details
Mangaluru: Have you ever wondered how many police cameras have recorded your movements, violation of traffic laws on any of your given trip to local grocery store, day out or journey around your home, office within Mangaluru? Here’s how many police CCTV cameras are there in Mangaluru.
With the implementation of new amended Motor Vehicle Act with reviewed fines for traffic violations, Police CCTV cameras have been playing more vital role to help the traffic police department to identify the violators of traffic laws and send the fine challan straight to their homes.
Not only this, the CCTV cameras in the city have also been helping the police department in cracking sensational murder cases like Shrimati Shetty murder case.
According to the City’s Assistant Commissioner of Police Traffic Sub-division, Manjunath Shetty, there are currently 93 CCTV cameras that have their surveillance on the city’s roads 24x7. Initially, in the first phase only 18 cameras were installed in the city. But the Police’s surveillance received a major boost when in 2017 additional 75 cameras were installed at various places and junctions in the city. The data of these cameras are stored for a certain period of time.
Additionally, the Police also access the CCTV cameras of private entities when and where required. This happens mostly during investigation of crimes and not for traffic violations, Shetty told Vartha Bharati.
Adding that there are no automatic capturing CCTV cameras in the city, Shetty said that the cameras are monitored manually 24x7 at control room.
“There are cops monitoring the footage 24x7 and they capture violations of traffic rules all the time. We used to report more than 100 violation cases everyday through cameras. Now with new rules and fines it has come down a bit and on average we report about 50-60 cases daily. That’s a significant decrease in numbers” Shetty told.
“There is a greater need of creating awareness among the youngsters. They should follow traffic laws for their own safety but instead today, youngsters follow these laws only when they see a traffic cop, a patrolling vehicle or at places where they know there are cameras.”
“They are following the rules and laws for the fear of being fined heavy fines under new laws. The purpose is being served but there is no morality in that. We will be happy when people will follow rules for their and other’s safety” Shetty added.
Shetty also informed that the department’s surveillance of the city will get another major boost soon as 60 more CCTV cameras will be installed at various places in the city under Smart City project. These cameras are expected to start working by the end of 2020.
So next time when you go out in the city on your vehicle without helmet or seatbelt, beware as these CCTV cameras are watching you. You might just get a fine challan delivered to your home before you can head out the next time.
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BJP responsible for Sabarimala women entry verdict, LDF's stand same as 2007 affidavit: Min Vasavan
Kottayam (Kerala) (PTI): Kerala Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan on Saturday blamed the BJP for the 2018 Supreme Court verdict permitting women's entry into Sabarimala and said the LDF government's current stand remains the same as the affidavit filed before the apex court in 2007.
He was responding to reporters' queries regarding the affidavit to be filed by the state government before the nine-member bench of the Supreme Court clarifying its position on the entry of women of menstruating age into the hill shrine.
He said the 2018 verdict came after women lawyers associated with the BJP approached the Supreme Court.
"We had filed an affidavit in 2007 stating that the issue should be decided by experts in ritualistic matters. We are still maintaining that stand," he said.
The Supreme Court has not sought the state government's position on women's entry now, but has asked for clarification on certain constitutional issues, he added.
"We have assigned the Advocate General and constitutional experts in the Supreme Court to give the reply. They will respond accordingly," the minister said.
He added that if the court seeks the state government's stand on the matter, it would be presented, noting that the LDF government had already stated its position in the affidavit filed in 2007.
"The party's (CPI-M) stand is the same as the government's. The government is with the devotees. We have always been with the devotees," he said.
The minister also criticised the opposition, alleging that they repeatedly approach courts on various issues and return with adverse responses.
"They go to court on several matters and come back with adverse responses. Has there been an opposition in Kerala that has faced so many setbacks from courts," he asked.
When asked about the state government’s actions in 2018 following the Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all ages to enter Sabarimala, he said no such interpretation should be made as the government had already clarified its stand in the 2007 affidavit.
"If the Supreme Court gives any verdict, can we say anything against it. The women’s entry was the decision of the apex court of the country," he said.
He said the 2018 verdict came after women lawyers associated with the BJP approached the SC.
"They are now hiding. Actually they were standing for it. But here they are taking a different stand," he said.
He further alleged that attempts to facilitate women's entry in 2018 were made by BJP activists.
"It was BJP's young lawyers who filed the case and received the verdict. They then called it a historic judgement. But after some stage, they changed their position," he claimed.
He said the LDF government's position was that it respects the Supreme Court's verdict.
"But in our affidavit filed in 2007 we clearly stated that the entry of women of menstruating age should be decided by experts in ritualistic matters," he said.
He denied allegations that the state government had taken special interest in facilitating the entry of women of menstruating age into Sabarimala in 2018.
The Supreme Court in 2018 permitted women of menstruating age to enter the Sabarimala temple, following which Kerala witnessed widespread protests.
Currently, the Supreme Court is considering appeals against the earlier verdict.
