The Tirunelveli District Police, in association with sponsors, have so far installed 8,786 CCTV cameras in public places across the district, including 900 cameras since January this year, to curb unlawful activities and discourage the troublemakers from orchestrating crimes as these ‘electronic eyes’ would provide credible evidence against them.
According to Superintendent of Police V. Prassannakumar, the Tirunelveli District Police, to prevent crimes, have introduced the ‘Gramathu Kaaval’ (Village Policing) by designating a police constable to every village with whom the villagers would be in constant touch to alert him about law and order problems or unlawful activities, if any, in their hamlet so as to take pre-emptive measures in the right time.
To add more teeth to this measure, CCTV cameras were being installed in the public places and 8,786 cameras are in operation now. This deterrent strategy has drastically reduced crimes against women, children and the girl students, Mr. Prassannakumar said.
“At the same time, we’re creating awareness among the public about the serious consequences of crime against women and children,” the SP said.
He informed that 29 offenders of POCSO Act booked in 28 cases last year had been convicted and 10 persons were convicted in as many POCSO cases this year with the quantum of punishment ranging from death sentence to one person, life unto death to 2 and 25 years’ imprisonment to 1 person etc.
“While final report has been filed in the court within 10 days of registration of FIR in six POCSO cases, judgment has been delivered in a POCSO case on the 29th day of the registration of case in which imprisonment unto death has been awarded,” SP said.
The SP informed that 55.40 kg of ganja had been seized in 103 cases since January and 131 persons arrested in this connection besides freezing 14 bank accounts of ganja smugglers.
On online defrauding, the SP said 820 bank accounts of fraudsters with ₹19.15 crore was frozen last year and ₹36.68 lakh this year.
Mr. Prassannakumar said the aggrieved public and others could contact him on 94981 01740 for informing about any unlawful activities or their grievances.