Pune: Determined not to wait anymore for the administration to solve their problem of security, residents of Yamunanagar in Nigdi-Pradhikaran, Sector 21, collected Rs60 lakh through donations and contributions from the residents of the area to install CCTV cameras in the suburb.
The residents were harassed a lot due to recurrent burglaries, theft, chain snatching incidences. They decided to install the CCTV cameras with their own contribution after police failed down to curb the incidences.
Interestingly, deputy commissioner of police (DCP) of Zone III, Shahaji Umap, officially inaugurated the CCTV on Thursday.
Speaking at the function Umap said such initiatives could inspire other localities too. “The population of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad has reached almost 60 lakh. The city experienced terror of two bomb blasts in the recent years. After terrorist attacks, chain snatching, house breaking and vehicle thefts are other threats that the citizens are facing. The initiatives by Yamunanagar residents will definitely inspire other localities. This will help stop burglaries and chain snatching cases to a great extent.”
The corporator of Ward-11 Sulbha Ubale said, “Now thieves or chain snatchers will think twice before committing any crime in this area. Fifteen CCTV cameras are installed in various important squares with the help of local businessmen and industrialists contributing from Rs5,000 to Rs15,000.
The complete plan is to install 56 CCTV cameras. So far, planning for 42 CCTV cameras is ready. Now the residents are contributing between Rs500 to Rs1,000 for further work.”
Sharad Inamdar, who conceived the idea of installing CCTV cameras, said, “A burglary took place in my bungalow. My family members were disturbed a lot due the incident. The residents are under constant threat of house break-ins and burglaries. So the idea of CCTV came to mind and I spoke to the local corporator about it. A list of the people who will help was quickly drafted. Everybody contributed and the plan to install CCTV cameras was successful.”
You are monitored
Now there is a board proudly put up by the residents in front of the CCTV cameras: Be careful, you are under CCTV cameras monitored by Yamunanagar and Nigdi police.
Constant threats of chain snatching, thefts led to the initiative
The local residents of Yamunanagar have been living under the fear of thefts from the past several years.
Of the scores of bungalows and row houses in this sector, nearly every fourth house has experienced some theft or other.
The residents however started panicking when burglaries started taking place in daylight also.
Besides big thefts, minor thefts like robbing iron chambers and scrap in compound and footware was common.
“There is not a single plot with covered drainage covers, all the covers were robbed two-three times. So finally the residents decided not to put it again. Now the robbers have turned their attention on robbing petrol from parked vehicles,” said a resident.
Meanwhile the residents have appointed security guards on sharing basis in some colonies also, but there are several houses which were burgled in their presence as well, said a few residents. In the last week, four burglaries had took place in a week and 15 chain snatching incidents took place in a month.
DNA/ Archana Dahiwal
