Liquor vends in Amritsar defy police order to install CCTVs

AMRITSAR: Despite repeated orders to liquor vend owners to install CCTV (close circuit television) cameras at their outlets, these have remained only on papers and no concrete effort has been made by the Amritsar police to implement the direction strictly.
On August 23 this year, it was for the sixth time that such an order was issued to these owners.Earlier, the Amritsar police have given similar orders in August, October and December last year and February and April this year.
The rule was supposed to have become effective within 45 days of the issuance of the order in August. But not a single CCTV has been installed. The cops have also failed to initiate action against the violators.
Violation of these orders, imposed under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code 1973, entail punishment under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code. Nonetheless, the authorities haven't bothered to register a case against the defaulting vend owners.
Owners of the vendors should put up CCTVs with an adequate number of cameras and recording system to cover 50-metre area in front of their establishments. It is aimed to keep tabs on the unscrupulous elements and nip any brewing trouble in the bud. Apart from this, it would help monitor anyone consuming liquor or facilitating its consumption in an unauthorized manner.
Commissioner of police R P Mittal admitted that these orders remain on paper although they should have been implemented by now. Pointing out that the orders were meant for public interest, Mittal said besides providing top surveillance to check crime, CCTVs would also help in better traffic management. "After the festivities are over, we will definitely strive to put the project on track," he said.