For safety sake: CU to install CCTVs in college campuses, hostels

Concerned over the incidents of outsiders entering the campuses and clashes between students, the University of Calcutta decided to install closed-circuit televisions (CCTV).

"We have taken this decision to strengthen the surveillance in our campuses. In the past, there were some incidents in which outsiders managed to enter the campuses. Student clashes inside the campuses are not unknown to us. Since CCTV footages amount as strong evidences in such cases and earlier cops faced problems due to lack of CCTVs, we came up with this measure," said Ashutosh Ghosh, Vice-Chancellor of University of Calcutta while talking to Millennium Post.

"We took the decision to install CCTVs in campuses a few years ago. But somehow we could not implement our decision. Now, to ensure safety and security inside the campuses, it has become very important," Ghosh said.

"We are not using CCTVs first time in University of Calcutta. Earlier, we rented such surveillance cameras during the student's elections. The police officers also advised us to install CCTVs for security purposes," Ghosh added.

It may be mentioned that the University Grants Commission (UGC) had sent circulars to universities asking them to take up various anti-ragging measures, such as installation of CCTV cameras on campus.

The Supreme Court had in 2009 banned ragging, following which the UGC issued a series of directives to prevent such illegal activities on campus. The UGC also asked to install alarm bells by which ragging victims can alert authorities and also asked to conduct surprise checks in toilets, canteens and common rooms by the college authorities.

University of Calcutta would also install it in their students' hostels. "As per the UGC guidelines, we'll install CCTVs in the common areas of students' hostels," Ghosh added.

It will be recalled, some students of Jadavpur University had gheraoed the vice-chancellor and senior officials for 50 hours two years ago to protest against the installation of such cameras on the campus. But several other universities in Bengal have already installed CCTVs.