Patna, May 24: The Centre has asked police of all states to videograph protests, but Bihar cops have been doing it for a year now.

A fortnight ago, the Union home ministry wrote to chief secretaries and DGPs of all states asking them to use digital video cameras to shoot troublemakers during protests that often lead to clashes between law enforcers and the public. The letter, a copy of which is with The Telegraph, said the top brass in the states should ensure that these video-recordings and subsequently used as evidence against offenders during trials. The directive came in the wake of a Supreme Court order while disposing of a writ petition asking all station house officers (SHOs) to maintain a panel of video operators to record protests, demonstrations and acts of violence.

Referring to the apex court order, the letter said, “If the officer-in-charge of a police station or other law enforcing agency is of the opinion that any direct action, either declared or undeclared, has the potential of causing destruction or damage to public property, he shall avail of the services of video operators.

“For this purpose, each police station shall be empowered to maintain a panel of local video operators, who could be made available at short notice.”

Reacting to the Union home ministry’s missive, Bihar DGP Abhayanand said, “The state police have been making use of digital cameras on such occasions for over a year. Almost all police stations are equipped with cameras and policemen trained to use video footage as evidence against the offenders.”

In fact, Patna police used the facility during a funeral procession by supporters of former Ranvir Sena chief Brahmeshwar Singh alias Mukhiya last June. Video footage helped identify and book nine protesters for causing damage to both public and private property on the streets of the state capital. The cases are, however, pending in court for trial.

According to the home ministry’s new directive, SHOs have to move to the spot with video operators soon after receiving information about protesters indulging in violence and damaging public or private property. The SHOs would then have to produce the video operators before a sub-divisional or executive magistrate to get their statement recorded, authenticating that they had video-graphed the incident.

The original CDs or other material capable of showing the recorded evidence would be produced before the magistrate concerned.

However, it would be open to the magistrate to entrust the police official or any other person to keep the CD or the material so that it could be produced in court at the appropriate time or when needed, the letter said.

The letter also talked of severe punishment for offenders of such crimes. It has also laid down certain guidelines for the organisers, who have been asked to meet police officials to review and revise the route to be taken and to lay down the conditions for a peaceful march or protest.

The letter further said that the police and state governments would ensure videography of such protests to the maximum extent possible. SPs have been asked to monitor protests in districts; the highest police officer in the state will do so if the situation stretched beyond a district.