Smart city CCTV cameras proving helpful for Chandigarh police to nab criminals

Besides vehicle thefts, the CCTV cameras have also helped the police to nab notorious burglars like Jaswinder Singh Barar, a suspended jail warden from Haryana, on November 21.

3 min readChandigarhNov 30, 2022 02:26 PM IST

So far, 2115 CCTV cameras have been installed in Chandigarh. (Express/File)

CCTV cameras installed across Chandigarh under the Smart City project have helped the police to crack most of the vehicle theft cases these days. At least two gangs of vehicle lifters have been busted in the last month with the help of these high-resolution CCTV cameras, said officials. As many as 31 stolen vehicles have been recovered from these gangs, they added.

“Indeed, CCTV cameras installed under the Smart City project are proving vital in many investigations. These cameras are able to read the registration number plates of all vehicles at one time. At the same time, we can not overlook human intelligence. Human intelligence is also important. These cameras installed on the main roads are proving to be beneficial to crack vehicle thefts, road rages, and road accidents. But in some cases like snatching we usually depend on the CCTV cameras installed privately inside the residential localities,” said Superintendent of Police (City) Shruti Arora.

The first gang of two men, who are drug addicts, was busted on October 23. This particular gang had been stealing Royal Enfield (Bullet) motorbikes in the Tricity comprising Panchkula, Mohali, and Chandigarh. The police have recovered as many as 15 stolen motorbikes from them.

The second gang of two people from Uttar Pradesh, who had stolen 16 motorcycles from Sector 17 and Sector 22, were arrested on October 24. Ali Hussain, 19, and Hashnabi, 20, used to come to Chandigarh in roadways buses, steal motorcycles from the two sectors and drive these to Ambala. They used to sell stolen vehicles at cheap prices in their native places.

Besides vehicle thefts, the CCTV cameras have also helped the police to nab notorious burglars like Jaswinder Singh Barar, a suspended jail warden from Haryana, on November 21.

Inspector Jai Parkash Singh, Station House Officer (SHO), Sector 49 police station, said, “Burglar Jaswinder Singh Barar had come to Sector 51 to drop off passengers on the day when he had burgled a house of foreign currency, gold ornaments, etc on November 18. He was traveling in his Verna, which was being used as a taxi. We first got a clue about Jaswinder’s Verna from a CCTV camera installed in the locality. Then, we followed the vehicle’s movements through CCTV cameras installed throughout Chandigarh. These cameras provided us with the registration number of the vehicle clearly”.

So far, 2115 CCTV cameras have been installed in Chandigarh. At least 1123 of them are being used for the surveillance and rest for the Integrated Traffic Management System (ITMS). The cameras being used for ITMS are being controlled by the Police Command Control Centre (PCCC), Sector 17.

Saurabh Parashar

Saurabh Parashar is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, primarily responsible for the publication’s coverage of Himachal Pradesh. He is a seasoned journalist with over 17 years of experience in print media, specializing in crime, legal affairs, and investigative reporting. Professional Background Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology (Hisar) and a Law degree from Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla. This legal background significantly informs his reporting on complex judicial and administrative matters. Career Path: Before joining The Indian Express in 2017, he spent 12 years with The Times of India. Core Beats: His primary focus is the socio-political landscape of the hill state, with a specific emphasis on the environment, forest conservation, drug menace (specifically "Chitta"), affairs related to tribal and archaeology and the unique challenges of governance in high-altitude regions. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His recent reporting highlights the critical intersection of policy, law, and social safety in Himachal Pradesh: 1. "Himachal’s battle against Chitta: Why the border areas are most vulnerable" (Late 2025): An investigative look at the transit routes from Punjab and the impact on local youth. 2. "Shimla ropeway clears key hurdle as 820 trees face the axe :According to the Forest Survey of India’s 2021 assessment, 47.21 percent of Shimla’s 5,131 sq km geographical area is under forest cover (Nov 17, 2025). 3. "Himachal to handover 2.7427 ha of non-forest land for Shimla Ropeway: Given the land’s non-forest nature, RTDC and the state will not require permission from MoEFCC" (Nov 18, 2025) 4. "How the centuries-old Jodidara tradition is fading in Himachal’s Trans-Giri region: Jodidara: a form of fraternal polyandry—has long been part of Hatti tribal culture in the Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh and adjoining Uttarakhand. It is believed to have evolved to prevent division of ancestral land and maintain unity among brothers in the harsh, mountainous terrain" (Aug 18, 2025) Legal & Agricultural Affairs "Kisan Sabha hails SC’s setting aside Himachal HC order to remove orchards from forest land" (Dec 18, 2025): Covering a major Supreme Court victory for farmers, where a High Court order to remove fruit-bearing apple orchards was overturned. "Himachal Cabinet nod to new tourism policy; focus on home-stays in tribal areas" (Dec 11, 2025): Detailing the legislative push to decentralize tourism and bring economic benefits to Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur. 3. Governance & Environment "Forest rights and development: Why Himachal is seeking more leeway from Centre" (Dec 19, 2025): Reporting on the legal hurdles faced by the state in infrastructure projects due to the Forest Conservation Act. "Cloudbursts and resilience: How Himachal’s remote villages are building back better" (Nov 2025): Following up on the long-term rehabilitation efforts after monsoon-related disasters. Crime especially cyber crimes, crypto currency etc: crypto currency: "Agents in uniform, motivational speeches, lavish parties: How a Himachal crypto con went unnoticed:A serial conman, a ‘Nelson Mandela Nobel Peace Award winner', and retired policemen got together to pull off a Rs 1,740-crore fraud" (Nov 10, 2023) Signature Beats Saurabh is recognized for his tenacious reporting on the state's drug epidemic. His deep familiarity with the topography and tribal culture of Himachal allows him to report from remote locations like Spiti, Pangi, Shillai, which are often overlooked by national media. His legal expertise makes him a primary choice for covering the Himachal Pradesh High Court on issues ranging from local body elections to environmental PILs. X (Twitter): @saurabh_prashar . ... Read More

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