Thanks to CCTV cameras and the power of artificial intelligence, 100 criminals, including pickpockets, chain snatchers, housebreakers, and other serious offenders who visited the Lalbaugcha Raja pandal have been identified. The Mumbai police had prepared a database of 10,000 criminals and used AI tools to identify them.  Due to these measures, no chain-snatching incidents were reported inside Lalbaugcha Raja pandal this year, while only five mobile phones were stolen during the 10 days of the festival, of which three have been recovered.

This year, the Lalbaugcha Raja Mandal installed 300 cameras around its pandal. DCP R Ragsudha, who led the surveillance operation, told mid-day, “This year, we used AI tools to identify offenders inside the Lalbaugcha Raja pandal during the 10 days. We used specific cameras at the entry and exit points from Garamkhada Maidan to the idol, and at other locations. We prepared data of 10,000 criminals with records of serious offences like chain-snatching and pickpocketing. The database was integrated with AI tools and linked to select cameras.”