CCTV to Be Installed in Media Houses in Arunachal

ITANAGAR, PTI : The Arunachal Pradesh government has decided to install CCTV cameras in all media establishments of the state to instill confidence among working journalists.The media fraternity represented by the Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) and Arunachal Press Club (APC) had on July 20 met Chief Minister Nabam Tuki and expressed their concern on the safety and security of working journalists.They had also sought fast- tracking of all pending cases related to assault, manhandling and threats to media persons and media houses in the past.

Assuring cooperation and immediate steps Tuki had issued specific directions to concerned authorities to fulfill the demands placed by APUWJ and APC in a bid to instill confidence amongst the working journalists, which was shaken out of proportions by the assassination bid on Tongam Rina, Associate Editor of the Arunachal Times on July 15.Political Secretary to CM Bamang Tago today visited all the media houses based in the capital complex along with experts and technicians to survey and finalize installation of CCTV cameras, official sources informed.

The Chief Minister, in his observation earlier, had emphasized on installation of high resolution CCTVs in all media houses, which in the modern world, has become a necessity for investigation and identification of criminals.He had also mooted the idea of CCTV installation in all important public places and market complexes. "Few media houses have already installed CCTVs, which were, however, found to be of poor resolution.

"So we would replace these with high resolution CCTVs besides installing CCTVs in all the media houses, which are yet to install one on their own," informed Tago.He added that poor resolution hampers speedy investigation as observed in the case of CCTV footages of the vandalism incident at Arunachal Times office."The installation process would be completed within a few days," he said.

Meanwhile, Tago appealed the media fraternity and media houses to cooperate with the government and the police to maintain law and order as they are the fourth pillar of democracy and 'eyes and ears' of the government."The government under Chief Minister Nabam Tuki is committed to ensure safety and security to all citizens including media persons," he said adding "it is also committed to deliver justice and punish law- breakers at all costs without considering the background or status of the person concerned."