Chennai citizens team up with CCTVs to avert crime

Chennai: The brutal murder of techie Swathi on a railway platform has been as an eye opener for Chennaiites, who are now beefing up security measures in their localities. They are no more willing to just depend on the city police. On Sunday, Triplicane became the latest neighbourhood to follow the footsteps of Besant Nagar and Adambakkam where associations of residents installed CCTV cameras in their locality to keep a check on crimes.

Over 240 households of SMV Koil Street, Triplicane pooled in? 2,50,000 to set up a comprehensive CCTV network to avert petty crimes. The two-month-old plan took shape after the Swathi’s murder as over 24 high-definition CCTV cameras were set up at various locations of the neighbourhood.     n P3

SMV Koil Street, which lies parallel to Triplicane High Road, is now a secure place for citizens, residents said. “Incidents of crime have been escalating here. Bike thefts and chain snatchings have become common, leading to residents panicking,” secretary of SMV Koil Street welfare association, B. Sathish Kumar told DC.

“Residents, especially women, find it dangerous to go outdoors in the nights. The move would now ensure safety for us,” said resident B. Thaamarai.

Appreciating the civilians’ efforts, DCP, Mylapore, V. Balakrishnan said that the crime rates would drastically come down through the initiative. “It could also help police resolve the crimes soon,” he added.

It could be noted that the residents of Kesari Nagar in Adambakkam and Besant Nagar have installed CCTV networks to curb crimes. Talking to DC, Alandur MLA T.M. Anbarasan who inaugurated the network at Adambakkam recently said, “This is a greater civic initiative that should set an example to all localities.”

The Senior Citizens Group of Besant Nagar' (SCGOBN), a voluntary organisation of socially conscious elders, are raising funds for placing CCTV cameras.