Chennai police to deploy over 18,000 personnel for Deepavali security
Special control rooms and facial recognition software will be used to manage crowds and prevent crime in shopping areas on Sunday.
The Chennai City Police will deploy more than 18,000 officers and personnel to ensure an incident-free Deepavali festival on Sunday, November 8, according to The Hindu.
Police Commissioner A. Amalraj directed officials to prevent theft in crowded areas, manage parking for shoppers, and regulate crowds across the city following a review meeting.
Security measures include the establishment of special control rooms and extensive monitoring in high-footfall areas such as T. Nagar, Pondy Bazaar, Purasawalkam, NSC Bose Road, MC Road, Koyambedu, and Anna Nagar.
The deployment includes units from the Law and Order, Crime, Traffic, Armed Reserve, Tamil Nadu Special Police, and Home Guard. Officers will use 100 body-worn cameras and binoculars at 37 locations to monitor criminal activity.
Authorities have also deployed 199 teams using Facial Recognition System (FRS) software on mobile phones to identify suspicious individuals. Large LED screens in Adyar, Triplicane, and Koyambedu will display warnings to shoppers.
Patrol vehicles have started operations in T. Nagar, Purasawalkam, Washermanpet, and Parrys. Residents have been advised to follow State Government guidelines regarding firecracker timings, which are limited to 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.