CCTV vigil in Gujarat to prevent onion theft

With prices of onion expected to touch Rs 100 a kg, the Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMCs) all over Gujarat have become extra vigilant to ensure a strict vigilance.

The price of onion has made consumers stay away from it while its value has encouraged the APMC authorities to remain vigilant and avoid theft of onions. Till recently, monitoring in APMCs across the state was limited to daytime but now, CCTVs keep vigil during nights. In certain APMCs, additional security guards have been deployed in key places to keep the onion stocks safe. Officials admit that the cameras have proved a deterrent and even the small thefts have stopped.

Not wanting to take a chance, the Mahuva APMC, which is the biggest onion trading market in Gujarat, has decided that during nights unsold goods will be stocked at one place and a guard will keep an eye on them. In case of a theft, the guard will be held responsible.

Meanwhile, at the Ahmedabad APMC, every trader records a theft of two to five kg of onion everyday but nobody lodges a police complaint. “With onions becoming expensive and unaffordable, we want to prevent even the smallest theft and hence these steps of extra vigil,’’ said Rajkumar, who has a store at the APMC.