Kolkata, 10 June (H.S.) -In response to a surge in crimes involving impersonators of central agencies like the CBI and ED, Kolkata Police have decided to install 53 new CCTV cameras across the Posta business hub. This move comes as part of an intensified effort by Lalbazar to secure one of the city’s most critical commercial zones, where daily gold transactions run into crores.

According to senior police officials, Posta and adjoining Burrabazar have become hotspots for high-value crimes, including recent cases of gold heists by fake officers. In one such incident, a person posing as a CBI officer looted around 400 grams of gold jewellery from an employee of a local gold trader.

Police sources revealed that ₹20 lakh has been allocated for the installation of these cameras, which will be strategically placed throughout Ward 23 of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation. This ward houses vital commercial stretches like Sonapatti, Hariram Goenka Street, Kalakar Street, and areas around Adibanshtala and Hanspukur.

Despite earlier appeals to traders to install private surveillance systems, many parts of the locality remain outside the CCTV coverage. Previous attempts by traffic police and the local Posta police station to cover some stretches were undermined as several of the installed cameras have become defunct over time.

A survey conducted by Lalbazar identified key gaps in surveillance, and plans have been drawn up to cover these blind spots. The live feed from the new cameras will be routed directly to Posta Police Station, allowing both local and central police control rooms to monitor high-traffic zones in real time.

Among the initial locations chosen for camera installation are Kalakar Street crossings with Debendra Dutta Lane, Shibtala Street, and Ratan Sarkar Garden Street; Shibtala Street with Baikuntha Seth Lane; Raja Brajendra Narayan Street; KK Tagore Street; and intersections with Rabindra Sarani and Rai Lane. Additional areas like Sukhlal Johuri Lane, Sir Hariram Goenka Street, and multiple lanes off Hanspukur will also be brought under surveillance.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh