Crime-&-arrest transition videos make khaki shine

Ludhiana: In a day and age where viral Facebook and Instagram videos and reels define popularity, Ludhiana city police have started a one-of-its-kind social media outreach to help people regain faith in the force. Catching up with the trend of transition videos, a brief effect that connects one video clip or scene to another, Ludhiana city police have started making before-and-after videos of crimes caught on CCTV cams and then the arrest of the accused.
The plan seems to be working.In the past few days, city police uploaded two such videos on its Facebook and Instagram accounts, garner attention and applause from people.
The first video is of an arrest by PAU police. The first part of the video shows the CCTV footage of gang of men snatching a gold chain worn by a woman walker in front of her house and the second part shows the snatchers getting arrested. Initially, just the CCTV footage of the snatching had gone viral on social media, drawing criticism for the police. However, police did some online countertrolling of its own after the arrest.
The second video is from Sarabha Nagar, of a man being assaulted by a blunt weapon and then accused getting arrested. To add to this, the video shows the accused with broken limbs.
The choice of background music adds a modern edge to the videos.
Deputy commissioner of police Jaskiranjit Singh Teja said police put in all their efforts and hard work to trace and apprehend accused in the smallest of cases. “Police have arrested several snatchers and miscreants who create a nuisance in the city. However, in today’s time, when social media has become a strong medium of communication and circulating information, police are also making its best use. When a crime is executed, footage of CCTV cams goes viral, and people react. Therefore, to give people a sense of security, we have posted such transition videos to inform people that the accused have been nabbed,” said the DCP.
Ratanjot Singh, in-charge of the social media cell of Ludhiana police commissionerate, is the brain behind the videos. “Over time, I realised that merely uploading a picture of the accused with a caption giving details of the case did not get much response. At first, I uploaded videos of traffic challans issued to violators and they got a good response. Now, I have started making these transition videos and these are being appreciated by people,” he added. “People connect with the visuals and appreciate the police.”