During protests related to irregularities in the NEET exam, the Mumbai police once again found themselves at the center of a scandal. A video is circulating on social media alleging that an officer in plain clothes behaved inappropriately towards female activists. Opposition politicians and social media users have demanded strict action against the officer. However, the Mumbai police refuted these allegations, stating that the video was misinterpreted.
The Mumbai Police provided clarifications regarding this incident on X, reporting that the officer was attempting to stop a male protester. At that moment, a female protester suddenly intervened, and the officer was looking in another direction. According to the police, senior officials thoroughly examined the video footage and confirmed the facts.
Akbar Patan, Director of the Mumbai Police Operations Department, also stated that senior leaders had analyzed the video recording in detail. He clarified that the officer was trying to detain a male protester, and it was at that moment that the woman intervened. No criminal cases have been filed in this matter as of yet.
The incident took place in Shivaji Park in Dadar, where students and activists were demonstrating, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan due to issues with the NEET exam. The police later escorted the protesters away from the site. After the video surfaced, opposition leaders from Maharashtra shared it on social media, demanding action. Varsha Gaikawar, President of the Mumbai Congress and Lok Sabha MP, raised the question of why male officers were deployed to deal with female protesters instead of female police officers.
She called the situation regrettable, noting the contrast between talks of 'Ladki Bahin' and such treatment of young women. Varsha Gaikawar also accused the students of allegedly filing false complaints and intimidating them.
Rohit Pawar, an NCP legislator, demanded the immediate suspension and arrest of the officer shown in the video. He insisted that if the person in the video is a police officer, a case should be registered for hurting a woman's dignity and appropriate measures taken.
Another similar controversial video was published on social media the day before. On Thursday, a 25-second clip went viral, showing a traffic police officer allegedly threatening two detained students who returned to the protest, mentioning a possible false drug charge. Following criticism of the situation, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called the driver's behavior completely unacceptable and ordered immediate disciplinary action against him.
Discussions have arisen regarding the use of facial recognition technologies and privacy concerns during CJP and student protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Particular attention is drawn to the artificial intelligence (AI) that the Delhi police are employing at the demonstration sites.
Videos have circulated on social media showing green frames appearing around people's faces on computer screens inside a specialized police van. It is claimed that this is an AI-based facial recognition system designed to identify individuals in a crowd. This has sparked a new wave of debate concerning surveillance, civil rights, and privacy.
According to reports, the Delhi police have deployed two specialized surveillance vans near Jantar Mantar. One is a mobile command and control vehicle that broadcasts a live video feed from surrounding CCTV cameras. The second van, named Ikshana, is equipped with AI-based facial recognition software. The video stream from the cameras enters this system, where the AI attempts to identify every face. The system outlines each silhouette with a frame and then matches it against the police database. If a similarity with an individual in the database is detected, the system can notify the police.
The Delhi police explain that the purpose of using this technology is not to monitor ordinary protesters, but rather to locate criminals, fugitives, or individuals against whom cases have already been filed. The police assert that this helps maintain law and order and take action in case of violence. Following recent incidents of violence during demonstrations, the police stated their capability to identify many suspects using AI cameras and video analytics.
The facial recognition system functions by converting facial characteristics such as eyes, nose, lips, and facial structure into digital data. This data is then compared with existing database information. If a match exceeding a set threshold is found, the system displays a probable match. However, the final decision is made by a human. According to the publication Indian Express, the Delhi police previously informed in response to an RTI request that they consider the result positive when a match reaches about 80 percent or higher.
Following the implementation of this technology, some protesters began participating in demonstrations while covering their faces with clothing, masks, or scarves, fearing their identities would be recorded. Others argue that people conducting peaceful demonstrations should not have to conceal their identity. This has transformed the issue from a purely technical matter into one of personal privacy. The issue has reached the Delhi High Court. The petition filed asserts that constant AI-based video recording and surveillance may violate the fundamental rights of protesters. The court has requested responses from the central government and the Delhi police. In turn, the police told the court that video recording is carried out exclusively for ensuring safety and maintaining order, not for espionage.
The Delhi police have been increasing their use of AI technologies for many years. Similar mobile surveillance vans and AI cameras were used during the G20 summit. These systems are now being applied at large rallies and in crowded areas. According to TOI, four blocks of facial recognition systems were recently installed in the Jantar Mantar area, which the police claim are intended for identifying criminals.
