Bengaluru police to deploy AI-based Multilingual voice agent for 112 helpline
Bengaluru: In a major move aimed at ensuring inclusive and accessible emergency services, the Bengaluru city police is set to deploy an AI-powered multilingual voice agent on the 112 emergency helpline. This advanced system will allow callers to seek assistance in a range of Indian and foreign languages, easing communication challenges often faced by migrant workers, international tourists, and students, reported Moneycontrol.com.
According to a tender floated by the city police, the AI voice assistant will initially support Indian languages such as Bengali, Gujarati, Odia, Manipuri, Kashmiri, Nepali, and Assamese. It will also cater to international callers by offering language options including Spanish, French, and Arabic.
The document accessed by Moneycontrol.com further states that the AI system is flexible and can be quickly trained to accommodate additional languages based on future requirements.
Quoting an official, Moneycontrol.com reported, “The AI voice assistant can understand and communicate in multiple languages. It will be integrated into the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS 112) to help eliminate the language barriers that often delay or block emergency response.”
Currently, the 112 helpline is staffed by around 100 personnel proficient in Kannada, English, and Hindi. Some staff members can also handle Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam. However, with the city being a magnet for people from across India and beyond, the limitations of human language proficiency have posed challenges during crisis calls. The integration of AI tools is expected to address these issues comprehensively.
The development comes in the wake of a recent controversy where Bengaluru Police were accused of asking a Spanish tourist to speak in Kannada during a burglary emergency. However, police clarified that no such call was received at the time and the issue was acted upon the following morning based on a neighbour’s report.
Beyond simple translation, the AI voice agent will have the ability to adapt its responses based on the nature of the emergency. Whether it’s a missing child, a medical emergency, or a fire, the system can frame context-specific questions and relay information to relevant departments such as ambulances or fire brigades. Equipped with location-tracking capabilities, it will also help pinpoint callers’ positions more accurately.
A senior police official, speaking to Moneycontrol.com, stated, “In situations where every second counts, being able to communicate instantly in one’s native language could be the difference between life and death.”
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Bengaluru: Four arrested for housebreaking, threats, extortion; fake PSI among accused
Bengaluru: Vidyaranyapura police have arrested four persons, including a man posing as a Police Sub-Inspector (PSI), for allegedly breaking into a house, threatening the occupants, and extorting money while wearing police uniforms.
The arrested accused have been identified as Mallikarjuna, Pramod, Vinay, and Hrithik.
Police said the accused had hatched a plan to pose as police personnel, conduct fake raids, and extort money from residents by intimidation.
ALSO READ: Bantwal police arrest two men for illegal sale of narcotics, seize two vehicles, 810 gm ganja
According to the police, Mallikarjuna had failed the PSI examination twice and later falsely projected himself as a PSI. He allegedly conducted photo shoots in his hometown, Siraguppa, wearing a police uniform, baton, cap, and shoes, claiming to be serving as a PSI in Bengaluru.
On December 7, the four accused allegedly went to the house of Naveen in the Vidyaranyapura limits, threatened him with a stick and an iron rod, and claimed they had information that he was selling ganja. Under the pretext of searching, they allegedly extorted ₹87,000 through bank transfer, ₹53,000 in cash kept in the house, and ₹2,000 from his wallet.
Following Naveen’s complaint, Vidyaranyapura police registered a case and launched an operation, leading to the arrest of all four accused. Police have seized ₹45,000 in cash and the car used to commit the crime.
Further investigation is underway.
