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More CCTVs at Kovalam soon

20 more to be commissioned in two weeks.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In the wake of the murder of the Latvian tourist at Kovalam, the city police has decided to enhance the CCTV coverage and will appeal civic officials to improve infrastructure like the streetlight. Around 20 new police CCTV camera were likely to be commissioned in two weeks. More hoteliers, restaurants and shops have been asked to install cameras and avail feeds at a control room of local station. However, due caution was being taken as the tourists are very concerned about the privacy, says officials.

“The murder of the Latvian citizen was an isolated incident. She got down at a point where Kovalam station ends and Thiruvallam limits begin. The possibility of surveillance was minimal here. She travelled a good three kilometres inside shady areas of Thiruvallam station limit into the perpetrators den,” said a senior police official.

The city police commissioner P. Prakash has called for patrolling in shady areas along the hills and coastal belt of Thiruvallam, Kovalam among others. Peddlers were being booked more proactively. “At Kovalam, we are highly concerned about molestations and fights happen under the influence of intoxications,” said a police officer attached to Kovalam station. There have been incidents of sexual harassment on foreigners at the resorts and on beaches during past season.

As per the official, the police station has a 65-member team including 22 tourism police officials, a number too high for its population and jurisdictional limits. “Having said that, even now, if a foreigner drifts away from Kovalam to other areas like Thiruvallam, we may not be able to stop or question them. They do not like to be interrogated and often complaints regarding this were raised at higher levels. Similarly, the sweep of all cameras will not extend beyond the pathways on the beach beyond which people sunbath,” he said.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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