Surat

Police Commissioner of Surat, Rakesh Asthana held a meeting with leading diamond traders and businessmen belonging to Patidar community on Saturday.

During the meeting Asthana was told that police had arrested innocents during and after the Patidar anamat andolan related violence.

In reply, Asthana said that no innocent person was arrested by police. All those arrested were arrested after their identification through CCTV camera recordings.

It should be mentioned that Surat Police has one of the best CCTV networks with video wall, zoom and recording facilities. CCTV project was implemented by city police under public private partnership model.

Asthana told Patidar traders that if they can provide specific names of what they think innocent people arrested by police, the police can provide factual details on the basis of CCTV footage.

Asthana said, the incidents of firing and loot have decreased significantly due to robust CCTV network system in place. The rioters damaged more than 40 CCTV camera poles, but their faces were captured while they were breaking the cameras.

Asthana said, diamond industry is direct beneficiary of CCTV network, and therefore it should take responsibility to reinstall the cameras.