123 Kolkata: Bidhannagar cops have installed new CCTVs at six locations in and around the scene of the crime in New Town, where the body of the 14-year-old girl was found last week. Following the death, police identified at least six ‘black spots' that were beyond the purview of electronic surveillance. They also wrote to the NKDA to request a status report on the 360-odd CCTV cameras within their jurisdiction.
"We found that multiple cameras were not working and there are several places where there is no camera. Hence, we have started installing new cameras for better safety and security of the residents," said a senior Bidhannagar City Police officer. He mentioned that new CCTVs are being installed at Lohapool Bazar, Mridha Market, Jyoti Nagar Natun Bazar, Mission Bazar, Jatragachi R R Site and Tarulia Jhilpar.
While some CCTVs were installed by the police, in multiple market areas like Jyoti Nagar Natun Bazar and Lohapool Bazar, they were installed by the market association under the instruction of Bidhannagar Police. "We were told to install CCTVs by the local PS. We have installed six from market association fund," said Pintu Koral, secretary of Lohapool Bazar Samity.
Multiple dark stretches of New Town have also been illuminated.
Meanwhile, the Bidhannagar Police, perhaps for the first time, used drones to capture high-resolution aerial images and videos of the crime scene and create 3D reconstructions of the scene for analysis. "With LiDAR technology or photogrammetry, drones can map a crime scene in detail, helping forensic experts analyse angles, distances and possible scenarios. This can be used to simulate events leading up to the murder," said another senior officer of the commissionerate.
Forensic officials visited the crime scene next to the canal behind the boundary wall of NBCC Vibgyor Towers on Thursday, collecting further evidence as police set up barricades on both sides of the 750-metre walkway to prevent jaywalking that could disturb the crime scene.
On Thursday, accused Soumitra Roy's wife, Mousumi, told reporters that she spoke to her husband and claimed that he admitted to have committed the crime. "He confessed to killing her before committing the rape. He told me that he asked the girl to sit in the toto and told her that he was going to relieve himself. The girl got restless and that was when he strangled. He said he raped the girl after the murder. He looked very normal while narrating the incident and was even laughing at times," Mousumi said.