Kollam court remains vulnerable with faulty cameras

KOLLAM: Even as the police have tightened security at strategic points across the state in the wake of the blast in the Malappuram court complex, the surveillance cameras  in the Kollam court complex  still remain non-functional. The complex containing the district headquarters of various departments and the collectorate, that was rocked by a blast in June, still remains vulnerable. The non-functioning of cameras has also hindered the collection of evidence in the Puttingal blasts.

According to sources, there are currently five cameras  in the complex but the digital video recorders (DVR)  are not functioning. “The cameras alone don’t serve the purpose unless the visuals are recorded. The complex has been  without surveillance for at least seven months, even before the Puttingal tragedy. This also affected the collection of evidence in connection with the tragedy,” an official told DC.

The faulty DVR and other systems were inspected by an expert team from Keltron which advised buying  new devices. The Public Works Department  chief engineer is learnt to have submitted an application before the additional chief secretary requesting immediate sanctioning of a proposal to install 24 cameras in and around the complex. The lack of surveillance cameras has also affected the inquiry into the blast that took place on June 15 in the court complex, injuring a person. Meanwhile, the investigations conducted by various agencies have  reached nowhere.