How Mohali police are integrating AI into day-to-day crime detection and resolution

Chief Minister Mann has already announced plans to introduce AI technology in partnership with multinational companies like Google to modernise the Punjab Police. This initiative aims to update the force with cloud computing, machine learning, and AI tools, positioning the Punjab Police as a frontrunner in tech-driven policing in India.

Punjab Police leadership, including Gaurav Yadav, Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab, has emphasised AI’s role in addressing challenges like crime detection, fraud identification, and resource allocation. The force aims to use AI to maintain law and order in Punjab, a border state facing unique security threats, by equipping it with scientific tools and best practices.

Mohali IRCC

Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav has said Mohali is a testbed for implementing a new initiative for policing which will gradually be introduced throughout the state to keep the force abreast with the latest technological developments.

Deepak Pareek, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Mohali, told The Indian Express the software in IRCC uses AI in processing the captured images of vehicles, classifying these by colour and type, and making identification through the logo of the vehicle and subsequently, the software allows search based on these parameters.

“There is no machine learning involved as of now, but we have asked the software developers to incorporate it for a more broad-based image processing and search. For example, we should be able to run a query in the form of a chat GPT like text input and say, ‘Show me all instances of a person in a red t-shirt driving a black Scooty’,” said Pareek.

Pareek said the district police are also working with a Mohali-based software company to enable AI-based search on all kinds of videos to make CCTV footage analysis faster during an investigation.

From PAIS to Cyber Mittar

The Punjab Police are already integrating AI into their investigative processes through facial recognition and criminal databases. They have developed the Punjab Artificial Intelligence System (PAIS), which includes a database of over 35,000 convicts, which uses facial recognition to help identify and apprehend suspects.

The police also collaborate with institutions like IIT Ropar to establish AI and Machine Learning labs. These labs focus on predictive policing, crime pattern recognition, and analysis, enhancing the capability to forecast criminal activities and optimise police resource allocation.

In 2024, Ram Singh, Additional DGP, Technical Services, and Rajeev Ahuja, Director, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the establishment of an in-house AI and Machine Learning Lab. This will help in harnessing cutting-edge technologies for predictive policing, crime pattern recognition and analysis, facial recognition and intelligent decision-making. The lab will also help in optimising the deployment of manpower based on real-time data, he said.

With the introduction of Cyber Mittar, an AI chatbot, the Punjab Police are enhancing real-time cybercrime reporting and resolution. This tool provides 24/7 assistance, instant information access, and a confidential platform for reporting cyber incidents, particularly focusing on financial fraud cases.

The Sadak Surakheya Force (SSF), launched as a specialised road safety force, integrates AI to reduce road fatalities by optimising traffic control, identifying black spots, and providing real-time traffic advisories.