Srinagar: The unabated incidents of braid chopping in the valley have forced people to opt for private security apparatus. Security devices like Video Door Phones (VDR) and Close Circuit Television Cameras (CCTV) are seeing boom in sales.
People associated with the trade of security devices claim that sales have seen a steady increase in the sales since incidents of braid chopping took place.
Younis Amin, a distributor of CP Plus , one of the leading companies, manufactur IMG, security devices claims that the sales of VDP also known as Video-Door-Intercom and CCTV has increased ‘drastically’.
“There used to be a poor response to such devices in domestic households. Since the start of this month we are selling 10-15 VDP devices daily and are receiving hundreds of queries from people all over the valley regarding these devices,” Younis said.
Amin told INS that the demand of VDP is in much higher than CCTV cameras because of its low cost installation and easy maintenance. “I used to sell around 5 VDP’s in a month and now I sell at least 10 to 12 devices in a day” he claimed.
“I’m running out of the stock and I have placed an order for more VDP but the company says it will take minimum two weeks to meet the order,” he added.
Tahir Amin Bhawan, proprietor of Bhawan Stationeries, seconded Amin, that CCTV and VDP sale have increased.
“Though the demand of CCTV cameras is much lesser than VDP, but some people prefer CCTV over VDP, because it monitors entire surrounding,” Bhawan said.
According to Bhawan one unit of CCTV consists of 4 cameras and ‘those who cannot afford it install a single camera setup’.
People have been spooked off, especially women by the widespread braid cutting incidents taking place on daily basis.
According to police over 100 cases of braid chopping have been reported since the first incident of braid chopping was reported from South Kashmir’s Kulgam district in August this year.
Abdul Qayoom Shah, a business man and a resident of city centre locality, has installed a setup of 6 CCTV cameras.
‘To ensure the safety of his wife and two daughters’, Shah confided, it was necessary as he reaches home late in the evening.
“I did not have another option so I did it for the safety of my family. I’m also planning to purchase special breed of a dog (German-Shepherd) for night surveillance as the cases of braid chopping increased in our area,” perturbed Shah said.
Shah is not the only one disturbed and perturbed.
Javaid Ahmad, a bank employee from Hyderpora area of the city shares Shahs feeling.
“High definition CCTV camera, I installed at home, to some extent has reduced my tension, but for more safety I try to reach home as soon as possible,” he said.
