Bhubaneswar: In a bid to bolster security at the Jagannath Temple and safeguard thousands of devotees, Puri police have on Friday rolled out a technology‑driven inspection drive using advanced facial recognition and fingerprint verification systems. The initiative, officials said, is aimed at identifying suspicious persons and keeping habitual offenders under close watch in and around the shrine.Police personnel have been equipped with tablets installed with facial recognition software linked to the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network System (CCTNS), a nationwide database containing photographs and biometrics of arrested criminals. “During a trial run on Thursday night, officers clicked photos of individuals loitering near shops, markets, and crowded areas around the temple in a suspicious manner, instantly matching them against the CCTNS database to verify antecedents. Fingerprint scans were also taken wherever necessary to confirm identities,” said SP (Puri) Prateek Singh.The 12th century shrine is classified among high‑risk installations in the country. In the wake of the April 2025 Pahalgam terror strike, Odisha police strengthened counter-terror capabilities by acquiring two bullet-proof armoured vehicles fitted with roof-mounted light machine guns. One vehicle, along with a squad of urban warfare-trained commandos, has been deployed near the Jagannath temple. “The use of facial recognition system is not just about post‑crime detection. Our focus is preventive policing. By integrating modern technology with traditional checks, we can identify offenders before they strike,” Singh said.The SP said that the temple’s significance as a religious and tourist hub makes it a potential target for pickpockets, chain‑snatchers, and other anti‑social elements. Local station officers have been instructed to carry out naka checking and identity verification across sensitive pockets of the city. Police teams collected intelligence on individuals with possible criminal backgrounds, including those who may have travelled from other districts or states to blend into the crowds. “Technology gives us an edge. Facial recognition helps us match faces in seconds, while fingerprint verification ensures foolproof identification,” a senior officer explained. Similar operations will continue in the coming days, particularly during festivals and peak tourist seasons.Residents and shopkeepers near the temple welcomed the move. “We often see unknown people, and street vendors from other states hanging around the temple for hours. Such checks reassure us that police are alert,” said Ramakanta Das, a local trader.
