Delhi Police install facial recognition units at Jantar Mantar protest site

Delhi Police have installed facial recognition units around Jantar Mantar to scan for wanted criminals and historysheeters. The move is meant to stop criminal elements from exploiting protests and disturbing law and order.

In Short

• Delhi Police installed 4 facial recognition units at Jantar Mantar protest site
• System targets criminals, absconders and historysheeters, not ordinary protesters
• High-resolution cameras capture and match faces in real-time for quick action

Delhi Police have installed four facial recognition system (FRS) units around the protest site at Jantar Mantar to identify wanted criminals, absconders and historysheeters, police sources said on Friday. The move is part of enhanced security arrangements at the venue.

Police sources said the system is not meant for ordinary protesters. They said it has been put in place to identify people with criminal antecedents who may try to infiltrate protests and disturb law and order.

The FRS units have been placed at key entry and exit points around the protest site and are directly linked to the Delhi Police database. The system will be monitored in real time by officers, allowing them to verify the identity of any wanted criminal, bad character or historysheeter.

"The objective is to ensure that people with criminal backgrounds do not exploit the protest to create law and order issues. The system is connected with the Delhi Police database and can identify wanted criminals, absconders, historysheeters and Bad Characters (BCs) whose details already exist in police records," a police source said.

According to the officer, the FRS does not target ordinary protesters but is meant to identify those with criminal antecedents who may try to take advantage of large gatherings.

"These are high-resolution cameras capable of capturing facial images even from a distance. Once a face is captured, it is quickly matched with the police database. If a wanted or absconding accused is detected, the concerned police unit is immediately alerted and legal action can be initiated without delay," he said.

Police said the technology will also help identify habitual offenders who have repeatedly figured in criminal cases and are listed as bad characters in Delhi Police records.

"The deployment acts as both a preventive and investigative tool. It helps us remain alert against anti-social elements who may try to infiltrate the protest and create nuisance or disturb law and order," another officer said.

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