India, Oct. 14 -- With lakhs of devotees expected at Kolhapur's Shree Ambabai Mahalaxmi temple during Navratri, the police are using artificial intelligence/AI-powered facial recognition technology to identify habitual offenders, including those from the neighbouring state of Karnataka, and prevent thefts in crowds.

The police have uploaded the photographs of around 850 people with criminal records, including externed offenders and habitual property offenders, to a facial recognition system integrated with surveillance cameras at the temple. Alerts generated by the system will help police personnel in plainclothes to locate individuals for verification.

Kolhapur superintendent of police Neelotpal said that a private agency is monitoring...