Delhi Police van with CCTV camera
Delhi Police vehicles will soon get spy cameras to keep an eye on the city's streets - and their own men too.
Faced with frequent riotous situations, the police have decided that the best way to monitor the capital would be through cameras that would be fitted on its patrol cars. The cameras will be connected to a server at the police headquarters and the offices of all 11 district police heads.
To begin with, a revolving CCTV camera has been mounted on a Maruti Gypsy with the New Delhi district police. Two cameras have been installed on the bar light of two police control room (PCR) vans in outer Delhi. In the latter case, the camera has to be rotated manually.
"If things go well, cameras will come up on all the 1,000 PCR vans," Special Commissioner of Police TN Mohan told IANS. The electronic eyes will help Delhi Police in more ways than one, officers say.
The decision to fit the cameras was taken following incidents of standoff between the police and mobs during protests - and mass rallies.
Officers who were not present at the site were also finding it difficult to verify allegations of police brutality on such occasions.
"The cameras will help officers take decisions depending on the situation as they will monitor live videos and instruct their men on the spot," Mr Mohan said. He didn't hide the fact that the cameras will also help keep an eye on the police force too.
The first priority will be the 1,000-strong PCR fleet. The PCR vans are deployed across the capital and are often the first to reach a crime scene.
In July this year, the Delhi Police was accused of killing in cold blood a young biker near India Gate.
Police denied the charge, saying the stunt bikers attacked them first. The family of the victim, however, blamed the police. There were no independent witnesses to say who was right.
Last year, a police constable died in the violent protests that followed the death of the December 16 gang rape victim. The police arrested some protesters, who, however, denied the charge. Again, there was no proof.
"In situations like these, cameras will be very useful," said an officer.
According to official statistics, Delhi witnessed 1,599 minor and major demonstrations last year in the New Delhi and Central Delhi police districts alone in which hundreds of thousands participated.
In the same area, there were 366 religious processions and gatherings.
The Indian capital saw some of the biggest public gatherings in 2011 when anti-corruption campaigner Anna Hazare fasted for a Lokpal bill, drawing hundreds of thousands at the sprawling Ramlila ground over 12 days.
And last year, his colleague Arvind Kejriwal held his show of strength in the heart of the city. Although police liberally employ men to videograph protests and mass gatherings, these can be viewed only later. Spy cameras mounted on police vehicles will change the situation, say officers.