Cops in a fix over lack of footages
SHILLONG: Lack of CCTV footages from the guest houses where the victim girl was taken is a hurdle for the police to find out what exactly happened in these areas.
So far, there are seven cases filed vis-à-vis the trafficking racket involving the rape of a minor girl at different locations.
Replying to a query as to why the case was not registered in Laban since the girl was found in Laban, Vivek Syiem, SP (Crime), City, said, “The offence of Laban started from Demthring where trafficking started and where she was confined and how the whole sequence of trafficking took place.”
With regard to the case being registered in Laitumkhrah, he said, “The offence was in Motinagar, the place of occurrence.”When asked whether CCTV footages were seized from the location, Syiem said, “At Lumsohphoh, there is no CCTV. We have seized the DVR from Marvelene’s Inn.”
The SP said no entry was made at Lumsohphoh guest house but it is established beyond doubt that he was there. “We are still investigating as to why no entry was made,” Syiem said.
Syiem urged owners of all guest houses and hotels to install CCTV cameras but added that there is no penalty for not doing so as it is only an advisory.”
“Most hotels who can afford to have CCTV cameras will benefit from them. However, it is always beneficial for the owners to have CCTV. In fact, had the CCTV worked at Marvelene’s Inn, it would have helped in the investigation,” he added.