Face, fingerprint scans tighten I-Day security

New Delhi: The Red Fort has been placed under a multi-layered security cover ahead of the Independence Day celebrations, with the Delhi Police deploying advanced technologies, including the Abhigyan app and facial recognition system (FRS) vans to identify suspicious and wanted persons in the crowd, officers said.

The security arrangements have been strengthened amid intelligence inputs. Around 15,000-20,000 Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel are expected to be deployed for the August 15 celebrations.

Nearly 25,000 people, including VIPs and VVIPs, are expected to attend the event at the Red Fort. For the first time as part of the enhanced security arrangements, the Abhigyan application is being used extensively to screen people in the crowd, the officers said.

The application has a database of more than one crore criminals, and police personnel are using handheld devices to collect fingerprints of randomly selected persons, they added. The fingerprint is checked against the database within seconds. A red indication means the person has a criminal record, with details appearing on the screen, while a green indication indicates that no criminal record has been found.