SWABI: Most of the CCTV cameras installed at markets and other places in the district after militants attack on Army Public School (APS) Peshawar are now out of order.

The traders and shopkeepers at the main markets told this scribe that most of those cameras were no longer in working condition. They said that CCTV cameras had been installed for security purposes to keep check on activities of terrorists and criminals.

Police and army had conducted several operations in the district against militants and several people including policemen and leaders of political parties had been killed in incidents of targeted killing by militants.

In Malikabad, a mountainous region of Gadoon Amazai, Ajmeer Mountain in Maini village and some of the areas in Razaar tehsil have been declared sensitive by law enforcement agencies.

Officials and traders said that cameras had been installed at main points of the trading centres across the district and shops, but with the passing of time they stopped functioning owing to some technical problems.

When asked, the traders and cameras installers said that they were not operational because the repairing work could not carried out and uninterrupted power supply (UPS) system remained out of order. They said that several low quality cameras installed at the jewellery shops and other trading points could also not work and needed replacement.

Some traders told this scribe on condition of anonymity that the camera went out of order when the people concerned felt easy and stopped taking care of the cameras. They said that it was responsibility of police to handle those cameras and monitor the markets, and all other important places in the district.

An official, when contacted, said that people should also take steps for upgradation of the installed cameras and take responsible steps.

DPO Sohail Khalid said that the out of order CCTV cameras would be repaired. He said that police would monitor bazaars and other places where the CCTVs should be in perfect order.

Published in Dawn, December 15th, 2017