From Our Correspondent
GUWAHATI: In view of rising crime rate in the city that serves as the gateway to the North East Region and has a huge floating population every day, Assam government has finally wakes up to the need for installation of CCTV cameras in certain vantage locations in the city, besides introduction of a police commissionerate.
In fact, a committee headed by former state DGP D N Dutta had recommended installation of CCTV cameras in 91 locations in the city besides introduction of police commissionerate to make the police force more effective and responsive in the time of crisis.
The committee was constituted in the wake of October 30, 2008 serial blasts in Assam that rocked three places in the heart of Guwahati city and in total killed over 90 persons in the state, most of them in Guwahati.
An official source informed that chief minister Tarun Gogoi had instructed the state chief secretary N K Das to initiate all necessary steps to introduce a police commissionerate in Guwahati while at least two CCTVs would be set up in the city by the end of this year.
The Central government has sanctioned Rs 10.38 crore for installation of CCTVs in the city.
These CCTVS will be installed at traffic intersections, markets, shopping malls, parking areas and other crowded localities in the city .
The traders bodies in the city has welcomed the decision taken to introduce a police commissionerate in the city as it would lead to more empowerment and strengthening of the police force in the bustling and populous city.
The trading community has been at the receiving end in view of rising crime rate in the city.
At least two businessmen were shot dead by gunmen in the city last month after the dusk with intention of robbery.
Meanwhile, chief minister Tarun Gogoi said that the responsibilities of senior police officials in the ranks of Additional SP and Deputy SP had been divided to streamline the functioning of force.