The Central Government’s call to States to intensify security in view of Saturday’s twin Hyderabad blasts appears to have been taken with not much seriousness by the Goa police.
In one such case, expensive cameras installed to monitor activities at the Polem police check post have been out of order for over two months and nothing has been done to rectify the problem.
The Police Department went hi-tech, and on the eve of the Assembly elections, installed cameras on masts at four strategic locations at the Polem check post to record movement of vehicles from across the border.
Police sources say these gadgets, costing over Rs 1 lakh, were installed to keep a tab on the movement of vehicles after the terrorism scare that rocked the State.
Solar lights were fitted atop the posts to keep these camera units functional even during power failure. The cameras were connected to the control unit located in the barrack of the police outpost and recordings were later transferred to the headquarters for scrutiny by higher authorities.
This exercise, which should have sent shivers down the spine of any person undertaking an illegal activity, instead, became the laughing stock in the area. The gadgets ceased to operate within a week after they were installed and no one has rectified the error in the monitoring unit.
On the other hand, some locals suspect that the failure of the cameras to function could well be a boon to the men in khaki, who may resent being monitored by a neutral eye regarding activities, legal or otherwise, at the Polem border.
When contacted, the police manning the Polem check post said they had orally informed their higher authorities that the gadget was out of operation. When contacted, South Goa SP S M Prabhudesai said he was unaware that the cameras were not working and pledged to look into the matter and get the gadgets rectified.
-Herald, Goa Daily
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