Jadavpur University plans to install 30 additional CCTV cameras across parts of its main campus that are currently outside the existing surveillance network, including the open-air theatre, Subarna Jayanti Bhavan and the football ground near Aurobindo Bhavan. The proposed expansion follows a dispute over political graffiti and questions about campus security after an alleged incident of vandalism on August 20.
Acting registrar Debajit Datta, who was appointed last week, said the university was likely to conduct a security audit before identifying the locations for the new cameras. The main campus currently has 50 CCTV cameras, most of which cover the gates and the administrative headquarters, he said.
“We have plans to install CCTV cameras in areas like the open-air theatre and Subarna Jayanti Bhavan. Cameras are also likely to be installed around the football ground near Aurobindo Bhavan, the university’s administrative headquarters,” Datta said.
He said the additional coverage was intended to address parts of the campus that remain outside the existing network. “The cameras we have mainly cover the gates and administrative headquarters. But a large part of the campus is outside the coverage areas. We need to bring them under CCTV coverage for the safety and security of students and others,” Datta said.
The plan comes amid a row over political graffiti on the university campus. Students belonging to the Revolutionary Students Front had written slogans on the walls of the open-air theatre, including statements advocating violence against people described as fascists. A quote attributed to Karl Marx was also written on the walls. The graffiti was later whitewashed.
The university authorities took that step after objections from chief minister Suvendu Adhikari, days after the alleged ABVP-led campus vandalism on August 20. Earlier this month, the university also asked the Kolkata Municipal Corporation to whitewash the walls of the open-air theatre and other areas.
The proposed CCTV expansion has prompted questions from some students about whether more cameras would lead to improved safety and effective action. Anushna Das, a postgraduate student, said she was trapped inside Aurobindo Bhavan past 1am on August 20 when ABVP supporters allegedly went on a rampage across the campus. The supporters were protesting the alleged assault of their unit president, Nikhil Das, by some Left-wing students.
“The CCTV cameras that were installed at the gates caught who invaded the campus at 1am on August 20 and who enabled their raids. The ABVP supporters again tried to invade the campus around 2pm that day. Have we seen any action against the offenders based on the CCTV footage so far?” Das said.
The university handed over CCTV footage to the police after filing a first information report at Jadavpur police station following the incident. Asked about concerns that existing cameras had not ensured safety or resulted in action against the alleged offenders, Datta said the university’s inquiry commission and the police investigation were still underway.
