Nagpur: The city’s crime detection and public safety mechanisms are under severe strain, with more than half of its surveillance network out of action. Of the 3,700 closed-circuit cameras installed across Nagpur, a staggering 2,100 are non-functional—1,400 completely defunct and another 750 offline—leaving 58% of the system inoperative.

The failure has hampered investigations in several key cases. Most recently, Jaripatka police struggled to trace armed assailants who robbed a grain trader of alleged hawala money, citing the lack of usable CCTV footage as a major setback. Officers were forced to rely on manual intelligence and scattered private cameras, many of which are poorly maintained and offer substandard footage.

The problem is not new. In the March 17 Mahal riots, rioters secured bail after police failed to produce sufficient video evidence. Similarly, the Kadbi Square firing case and a spate of chain-snatching incidents targeting senior citizens remain unsolved for want of clear visual proof.

Security experts warn that the lapse is especially dangerous given the presence of high-risk institutions such as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters, which faces global threats. Without immediate repairs and upgrades, police fear the city will remain exposed to rising crime, accidents, and potential law-and-order disruptions.

Authorities have yet to announce a concrete timeline for restoring the crippled network, even as public pressure mounts for swift action to safeguard citizens and assist ongoing investigations.