E-Paper
High-tech surveillance by police
The common devotee may have felt inconvenience due to official apathy in the Magh Mela but not the cops. This year's mela has turned out to be a high tech affair for them. Following the success of CCTV at the Hardwar Kumbh, for the first time, the same technology has been made available here.
The common devotee may have felt inconvenience due to official apathy in the Magh Mela but not the cops. This year's mela has turned out to be a high tech affair for them. Following the success of CCTV at the Hardwar Kumbh, for the first time, the same technology has been made available here.
The Mela which began here today saw cops handling sophisticated electronic gadgets for surveillance and keeping a watch on trouble-makers.
CO Mela Rajesh Yadav preferred to sit in his tent and watch the incoming and the outgoing crowd on the seven TV screens in front of him. What turned to be new this time is the handling of various cameras fixed at different places with the touch of a lever.
Turning sideways a small lever on a small wooden board the CO could get a view of bathers as far as the Arail and the Daraganj ghat. Not only this through this high tech system he could turn the camera in any direction thus being able to read even the registration number of any vehicle including the clear picture of the driver and others sitting in a vehicle.
Fitted with zooming device a close-up of any person or bather anywhere in the Sangam area is also possible. The device is being dubbed as a great tool in the hands of a police officer who will now be able to see not only what was going on at a place but also keep a watch over the activities of the police force deployed any where within the reach of the camera. Earlier police officers could have a similar view but only through fixed cameras which could not be moved or remote controlled.
As claimed by cops the much expected commandos were were not seen in action on the first day of the Magh Mela. Police sources, however, claimed that the demand for this elite security force has been sent to Lucknow for the second time and men of this force were expected to guard the mela during the next main bathing festival.
