Stalking case: CCTV cameras along route 'non-functional', says Chandigarh police

The Chandigarh police on Monday claimed that there were no CCTV footage of Haryana BJP president Subhash Barala's son stalking the daughter of a senior IAS officer.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Satish Kumar told the media that they tried to get CCTV footage from nine CCTV cameras along the route, from Sector 7 to Housing Board traffic light point, but all were found to be "non-functional".

The route along which Vikas Barala and his friend Ashish Kumar stalked the victim, Varnika Kundu, daughter of Haryana Additional Chief Secretary VS Kundu, passes through some prominent and busy parts of Chandigarh including the Sector 26 Police Lines.

There are at least five cameras on the stretch. "The annual maintenance contract of the administration with the firm got over on July 24 rendering the cameras on the traffic intersections non-functional," Shashank Anand, SSP traffic, said. The five cameras are among the 50% other CCTVs not working since July 24.

"It is strange that the CCTV cameras of such high-profile areas were not working. This seems to be a cover-up," a junior police officer told IANS.

The CCTV footage will play a crucial role in the case to prove the allegations of the woman.

The incident took place around 12.35am on Saturday. Vikas, who is a student of LLB, and his friend Ashish were booked under section 354 D (stalking) of IPC and 185 of the Motor Vehicle Act (driving by a drunken person or by a person under the influence of drugs).

OneIndia News