Hyderabad: CCTV recordings played major role in solving cases

Hyderabad: A minor clue from the owner of a roadside eatery, followed by the movements of a suspect woman recorded on CCTV helped the police to crack the kidnap case of a 18-month-old boy within 24 hours in Mailardevpally in November. Police nabbed the suspect and rescued the boy but the boy’s father died of shock. Similarly, the CCTVs helped the Cyberabad police to detect 60 per cent of the cases registered in 2016. Out of the 17.827 cases reported, 2,579 were theft cases, that is 14 per cent and Rs 15.12 crore was lost in them. Property recovery has come down from 79 per cent in 2015 to 66 per cent in 2016.

Cyberabad police commissioner Sandeep Shandilya said the main reason for crimes coming down in their area is the fear created among criminals. In 2016, sensational murder cases like that of Congolese woman Cynthia Vechel who was brutally murdered by her husband Rupesh Kumar Mohnani, and a 17-year-old boy killing a seven-year-old girl in Medchal were also solved. Cyberabad police also put an end to organised prostitution rings operating from KPHB Road #1 to Hydernagar village since seven years and arrested five of the organisers. They also rescued 21 victims and remanded 16 sex workers.

Mr Shandilya said that due to demonetisation, police were focussing on security at banks and helping the public at various banks. Due to this there was a slight shift of focus from crime. "Though there were VVIP movements round the year and prestigious international events, Cyberabad police did remarkably well in detecting cases with limited resources. However, staff shortage is still a major problem," he said.