Wary Walled City residents bank on CCTVs for safety

VADODARA: When communal tension flares up in the Walled City areas, the first thing that Lalabhai Shyamwala does is keep an eye on his computer screen. The multiple windows on the screen show the happenings outside his office in Juni Ghadi area – a communally sensitive area. He immediately calls up police on sensing trouble.
Residents of the communally sensitive areas in the old city are fasting taking to technology for their safety.Wary of the frequent clashes, many in sensitive areas have started installing CCTVs outside their shops and houses.
“I also have a mobile phone application that streams CCTV footage live from anywhere in the country. I can monitor my office and godown even when I am away and it gives me a sense of security,” Shyamwala, who is one of the biggest suppliers tent-house in the city.
Haji Ibrahim Sheikh, a resident of Thekarnath Road, too has installed CCTV at his bungalow. “Whenever communal riots break out, people come on roads and pelt stones outside our house. CCTVs not only helps monitor the happenings outside but also discourage the rioters. The troublemakers think twice before creating disturbance as they know that the CCTV outside my home is keeping an eye on the street,” Sheikh, who is in poultry business, said.
“We had installed two CCTVs some weeks ago when my son was attacked by a neighbour. I decided to keep the CCTVs facing the street for my family’s safety during riots as I stay very close to communally sensitive area,” said Amrutdas Marwadi, a resident of Marwadi Mohalla in Fatehpura-Bhandwada area.
“The police often takes our CCTV recordings to identify the rioters. Also having CCTV footage helps as innocent persons don’t get arrested in cases of communal riots,” said Raju Vohra, who has installed CCTVs outside his garage near Ajabdi Mill.