Jammu and Kashmir government will introduce hi-tech gadgetry, including 48 new Closed Circuit Television cameras, to check criminal and anti-national activities in the state.

The government has already sanctioned the new CCTV cameras to be installed at sensitive points in Srinagar and Jammu to monitor any unlawful activity, official sources said.

They said the gadgets were in the process of installation and would be functional by the year end.

The decision to augment the number of CCTV cameras was taken after the existing 16 cameras installed at strategic locations in the Srinagar city had helped police crack several militancy related cases and helped in neutralising militants during the Lal Chowk suicide attack in January this year.

"The police was able to track down the militants and their supporters involved in the in the shooting of security force personnel at Budshah chowk in 2009 within 72 hours. The security forces were also able to track the foot prints of the militants in the Lal Chowk attack earlier this year with the help of footage from CCTV cameras," the sources said.

The law enforcing agencies have also been able to keep an eye on the elements who try to disturb normal life in the commercial hub of Lal Chowk and adjoining areas by instigating people to protest, they said.

"Many stone pelters were identified with the help of the CCTV footage, which has become an irrefutable evidence in the courts," they added.

The cameras had also helped the police in solving many crime and accident cases in the twin capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar. .

The results of using the hi-tech gadgetry in Jammu and Srinagar then prompted the police to widen the network of the cameras in both the cities.

At present, the CCTV cameras are installed around sensitive installations like Civil Secretariat, Budshah Chowk, Lal Chowk, Dalgate and Hari Singh High Street.

The other steps taken by the government to improve the policing include connecting all the police stations and district police headquarters under the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems and Common Integrated Police Application programmes.

Facilities like telephones, fax machines and computers have been provided up to the police station level.

They said hi-tech hardware and software have been procured for monitoring and investigating anti-state and anti-national activities on the internet.

"Modern and scientific methods with adequate technological back up have been introduced to enhance investigating skills of the police personnel while the transport fleet has been augmented to enhance their mobility," the sources said.

A revised curriculum has been introduced for improving the training skills of the officers and constabulary of the state police.

The manpower is being augmented through regular recruitment drives as the police prepares itself for a long-term goal of taking over the law and order maintenance duties from CRPF and other paramilitary forces in the state.

The state government has also submitted a proposal to Union Home Ministry for procurement of latest non-lethal weapons and equipment for mob control.