The city of Nagpur, the capital of Maharashtra, has become a national benchmark in the application of artificial intelligence for public safety. Recently, the local police introduced AI Nirikshak, the country's first AI-based crowd management system, which integrates CCTV and drone footage with real-time video analysis. This platform incorporates heat maps, facial recognition to identify suspects, and automatic alerts for crowds or the presence of suspicious objects. According to Commissioner Ravinder Kumar Singal, the goal is to position Maharashtra as a leader in crowd management through AI, starting in Nagpur and gradually expanding throughout the state. Another notable innovation is SIMBA, a big data analysis system developed in collaboration with Staqu Technologies. SIMBA is connected to a digitized database with 150,000 criminal profiles and uses Crime GPT to process information through natural language and voice recognition. Singal emphasized that this tool will enhance security and police efficiency through real-time alerts. Atul Rai, co-founder of Staqu, highlighted that the integration of SIMBA reinforces the commitment to equip security forces with advanced technology. In the field of investigation, the MARVEL platform has been a pioneer in using AI in rural areas of Nagpur since April 2025. Its MahaCrimeOS AI system acts as an assistant in cybercrime investigations, automating processes and suggesting investigative strategies instantly. Rural police have already achieved concrete results, such as solving a hit-and-run case by analyzing 12 hours of CCTV footage at three toll booths, identifying a suspicious truck by its visual characteristics and speed. Superintendent Harsh Poddar noted that tasks that previously took up to 24 hours can now be completed in just 15 minutes. In other major cities, artificial intelligence and predictive analysis are transforming urban security. In New Delhi, police plan to expand the use of AI-based facial recognition following successful pilot projects, allowing for the identification of suspects, locating missing persons, and tracking vehicles through automatic license plate recognition. Authorities remind that this technology was key in identifying over a hundred individuals involved in the 2020 riots. In the south, Bengaluru police have implemented an AI system to monitor compliance with the firecracker ban during festivals. By analyzing images from hundreds of cameras, the technology detects flashes, smoke, and unusual behaviors in crowds. During the last Diwali, the system helped manage over 2,000 incidents, sending real-time alerts to patrol teams. Uttar Pradesh has also invested in predictive tools, collaborating with Staqu Technologies to launch CrimeGPT, which allows for the analysis of large criminal databases and improves crime prevention. Nationally, the Ministry of Information Technology has developed FakeCheck, software capable of detecting deepfake-generated images and videos, even available in an offline version for police forces. However, the expansion of these technologies is not without controversy. Experts warn that AI-based surveillance can perpetuate existing biases by using historical data, which could lead to disproportionate surveillance of certain groups. There are also concerns about the accuracy of facial recognition and the lack of clear regulations in the country. Additionally, there are worries about the impact on citizen privacy, as these tools enable mass surveillance and large-scale profiling. In summary, while AI is helping police forces in India better manage their resources and respond more quickly to crime and digital fraud, its deployment continues to generate intense social and ethical debate. (Source: diariovasco.com)