SRINAGAR: In the first such action in the Kashmir Valley, Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday said it detained an alleged overground worker (OGW) after a recently installed Facial Recognition System (FRS) flagged him at a security checkpoint in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
The individual, a resident of Seer Hamdan, was working as a carpenter and had a prior FIR against him from 2005, police said. He was intercepted at the Langanbal checkpoint and later handed over to the Pahalgam police station for legal proceedings.
“This swift interception highlights the impact of technology-driven policing and is aimed at sending a deterrent message to miscreants,” Anantnag Police said in a statement, noting that the detection came at a time when the region has seen enhanced security surveillance.
Officials confirmed that the facial recognition system was recently deployed at key locations in the district and is part of a wider push to integrate modern surveillance tools into policing in the Valley.
The deployment of FRS and other electronic monitoring systems, police said, reflects a broader strategy to prevent any attempts to disturb public order and ensure that individuals with known records are identified promptly. “Anyone attempting to disrupt peace or threaten safety will be dealt with under the law,” a police officer said.
