Mysuru: In an effort to bring down incidence of violence - particularly clashes between different communities - in rural areas of the district, Mysuru district police have decided to equip as many as 253 villages with closed circuit television CCTV ) cameras. In the first phase of this project, 60 villages in the district have already been provided CCTV cameras , with the remaining ones set to get them within a month.Superintendent of police (SP) Ravi Channannanavar told The Times of India, "We have decided to install standalone CCTV cameras at local buildings and shops. As is the case in urban centres, we will use CCTV footage as evidence to crack cases, particularly those involving violence."Pointing out that the CCTV cameras would be used in those villages classified as 'sensitive', the SP added, "We classified the villages based on complaints we registered. The initiative will help us monitor the movement of miscreants and their activities. We are hopeful that this will help us bring down crime rate drastically in the villages."Police sources said that a few villages in the district had witnessed frequent clashes between communities, many of them involving disputes between members of different castes. "Once these CCTV cameras are installed, miscreants will hesitate to get involved in violence out of fear," said a cop.Moreover, the CCTV cameras are also expected to give a fillip to security arrangements for the 2018 assembly elections.Response in 15 minutesSP Channannanavar said that the other key decision that police had taken was to respond to any distress call within 15 minutes across the district. "We have directed all personnel and officials to return every call they receive. The order stipulates that all missed calls recorded on the mobile phones of the officers must be returned at the earliest," he added.Libraries at police stationsSP Ravi D Channannanavar said that all 19 police stations across Mysuru would be made more people-friendly. They would be provided with, among other facilties, libraries, television rooms, a reception and waiting rooms. "We have trained our staff to treat the public with respect. Whether it is welcoming them to the station or offering them water and when it comes to discussing grievances. We are hopeful these measures will help lift confidence among the public about police," he added.

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