NRIs pitch in for tighter security at Golden Temple

Amritsar, Punjab: In a major boost to security at the Golden Temple, a new security system with high definition PTZ cameras having features like sophisticated face recognition and face tracking software is being installed at the holy shrine. The project is being funded by NRI Onkar Singh Sangha and San Jose Gurdwara Committee members from California, US.

Talking to The Tribune, NRI Inderjit Singh Thind said a total of 22 high definition cameras would be installed within the Golden Temple Complex. He said 14 cameras were being put up in the first phase while the remaining would be installed in the second phase. He said these cameras were being installed within the sanctum sanctorum and the causeway leading to it, besides some key points in the “parikarma”.

He said all the cameras would have 30 frames per second for smooth people motion tracking capability. “These cameras are equipped with high optical zoom to facilitate face recognition. These also have custom designed tracking software and recording ability up to 30 days, besides backup and restore capability. The cameras have a 30-minute colour recording capability in power outage situations,” he added.

As per a release issued by the SGPC, the cameras are also being installed at significant points like Akal Takht and “Lachi Ber” within the complex. Each of these cameras cost $5,000. A separate control room has also been set up near the Akal Takht secretariat to monitor the activities being captured in the new cameras. The new security system is designed and installed by a US company.

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh, SGPC executive member Rajinder Singh Mehta and SGPC Secretary Manjeet Singh felicitated the San Jose Gurdwara Committee members and other NRIs. Those honoured included San Jose Gurdwara Committee president Hardev Singh Takkhad, general secretary BS Dhillon, Sukhdev Singh Beniwal, Inderjit Singh Thind, Surinder Singh Purewal, Milap Singh, Daljeet Singh Dhalu and Onkar Singh.

Makkar fails to meet U’khand CM

SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar could not meet Uttarakhand CM Vijay Bahuguna today as the latter had to rush to Delhi due to an emergency situation. Makkar, who was in Uttarakhand capital Dehradun, was scheduled to meet him to take up the demand for allotment of land to facilitate reconstruction of Gurdwara Gyan Godri Sahib at Har-ki-Pauri in Haridwar.

Gurdwara Gyan Godri Sahib was set up at Har-Ki-Pauri in memory of Guru Nanak Dev who visited the place in 1504-05 and had an interaction with local “teerth purohits”.

About the cameras

• The cameras are equipped with high optical zoom to facilitate face recognition
• These have custom designed tracking software and recording ability of up to 30 days

Source: The Tribune