Andha cell shocker 

Apropos the news report ‘Andha cell’ (PM, June 9), it is really shocking and fishy that a cold-blooded murder of terrorist and alleged blast accused Mohammad Quateel Siddiqui took place in Yerwada Central Prison, in spite of having tight security and CCTV cameras.
 
This is a blot on the jail authorities and ultimately, the blame goes to the State Home Ministry.The surprising part of the crime is that the killers — Bhalerao and Mohol — are inmates and lodged in the cell adjacent to the ‘anda cell’.

From the details of the report, it is clear that there is total negligence on the part of the security personnel and. The Home Ministry should look into the matter and ensure that such happenings do not recur in the jail. 

- Vijay D Patil

‘Andha Cell’, (PM, June 9) is a most appropriate name for the Anda Cell in the now infamous Yerwada Central Prison. That this high security cell for dreaded terrorists has not had working CCTV cameras for the last six months is criminal and should be probed.

This proved to be a boon for the culprits who seem to have been hired by the mentors of Mohd Qateel Siddiqui to eliminate him. Simply suspending the jail superintendent is not enough as it can be revoked once the outrage over the case dies down.

The IG in-charge should also be taken to task for this lapse. Anyone who thinks Sharad Mohol or Alok Bhalerao killed Siddiqui on their own after a trivial fight, is sadly mistaken. It is high time the concerned higher officials/ministers looked into the working of jails in Maharashtra.

- Yash P Verma

  Ludicrous CCTV costs 

With regard to your news report ‘CCTV fails this monsoon’ (PM, June 8), it is no wonder the country is down in the dumps if the cost of installing 21 CCTV cameras is apparently Rs 15 crore.

Speaking from experience (I run a security company with CCTVs along with other products), and even if u spend a lakh per camera (including accessories like recording DVRs or IP connect and installation etc), the cost should be a maximum of Rs 21 lakh.

Has anybody bothered to check if the system ever worked? Or were cameras just installed here and there to cover up the scam? Then again, in a country riddled with scams amounting to lakhs of crores, Rs 15 crore seems like poor man’s play.

- Shikha Gupta

  Bazmee — hit or miss 

In your article ‘Bazmee loses out to Bachchan’ (PM, June 7) mentions that Aneesh Bazmee’s movies Thank You and Ready failed at the box office. According to Bollywood trade pundits, Ready collected around Rs 180 crore worldwide and Rs 123 crore in India in five weeks. These facts need to be checked before terming a film a ‘failure.’

- N Borate

  Art, but no heart 

With regard to your special report ‘Banksy off the wall’ (PM, June 4), the photo of ‘Consumer Jesus’ on the cross was hurtful to Christian sentiments and an insult to the great sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. I think a little more sensitivity is needed. 

- Nishita Saju