CCTVs: Some like them, some don't in Ghaziabad

The city police are reeling under complaints of a different genre. The CCTV cameras that have been installed by the residents of Indirapuram, Kaushmabi, Vaishali and Vasundharain colonies to safeguard the security their homes are now facing flak over the issue of privacy. Peeyush Khandelwal reports.

The city police are reeling under complaints of a different genre. The CCTV cameras that have been installed by the residents of Indirapuram, Kaushmabi, Vaishali and Vasundharain colonies to safeguard the security their homes are now facing flak over the issue of privacy.

HT Image

In January alone, the police officials received around half a dozen complaints from residents who objected to their neighbours putting up CCTVs outside the flats.

"One of the resident complained that their bedroom privacy was invaded due to his neighbour's camera. We had to intervene and had to alter the camera direction," said a police officer.

"I had to install this to keep a check on anonymous people coming in the society as our children are left with the caretaker in our absence. This is for my house security but our neighbours are raising objections," said Vishal Tandon, an Indirapuram resident.

Although the residents have their own arguments for and against such installations, senior police officials also admit that their department has been lagging behind in solving theft and burglary cases in the areas with only 35 to 40 per cent cases solved.

"Our officials have ensured that the neighbours' objections are taken care of. We don't discourage putting up the camera outside flats but neighbour's privacy should not be compromised with," senior superintendent of police Raghubir Lal said.