Dehradun’s clock tower: Lack of connectivity halted clocks, police denies any theft

Dehradun: The iconic clock tower of Dehradun was suddenly in news after it had started functioning a couple of days ago. After the complaint was made by locals, a team from the municipal officials visited the site and investigated. They claimed to have found valuable nozzles for the fountain and the cables for the lights illuminating the clock tower were missing. But Dehradun police denied such claims and discovered no theft at the clock tower.

The police have also suggested a departmental inquiry into the negligence in maintaining the clock tower’s control room keys. However, the City Area Officer’s investigation report found no negligence by the outpost in-charge, Dhara (police post close to clock tower), who was subsequently reinstated.

Clock Tower control room’s double lock was found intact

As per the Dehradun police, under a joint inspection by the Municipal Corporation Commissioner and the City Area Officer, the truth about the dismantled valuables in the clock tower was revealed. The Commissioner, City Area Officer, and a forensic team inspected the site. They found the double locks of the Ghanta Ghar control room intact, but the wires of the clock and floodlight were cut. Moreover, all valuable equipment was safe, with no evidence of theft or forced entry.

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Lack of connectivity is likely to be the reason for the dysfunction of clocks and lights

On September 10, 2024, a case was registered regarding the damage to the fountain’s motor and floodlight wires in the clock tower by the Executive Engineer of the Municipal Corporation Dehradun, Kotwali Nagar. On September 11, 2024, the Commissioner, City Jurisdiction Dehradun, and Inspector Kotwali Nagar visited the site for a joint inspection. The control room was locked, with no signs of forced entry. The wires connected to the clock were cut, but the valuable equipment remained safe. The lack of connectivity, likely due to the cut wires, was the reason for the clocks and speakers not working. The cut wires were found on-site, neither stolen nor removed.

A forensic team did photography and videography

Additionally, a forensic team documented the site with photography and videography during inspection. The intact locks suggested tampering by individuals with access to the control room keys. The police requested the Municipal Corporation to investigate the key maintenance negligence. For a fair investigation, SSP Dehradun instructed the line attachment of the outpost in-charge, U.N. Harsh Arora, and handed the case to the City Circle Officer. The City Circle Officer’s report found no negligence by the outpost in-charge, who was then reinstated.