Odisha Police Partners with NFSU to Enhance Cybercrime Investigation Skills

Bhubaneswar: As cyber frauds and digital crimes continue to grow in complexity, the Odisha Police on Tuesday entered into a five-year partnership with the National Forensic Science University (NFSU), Bhubaneswar, to strengthen cybercrime investigation, digital forensics and scientific policing through specialised training, research and technical collaboration.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the CID-Crime Branch of Odisha Police and NFSU in the presence of Director General of Police (DGP) Yogesh Bahadur Khurania. The agreement was signed by DGP, Crime Branch, Vinaytosh Mishra, and NFSU Bhubaneswar Campus Director Dr. Purvi Pokhariyal.

Soon after the signing ceremony, DGP Khurania inaugurated a training programme titled “Cyber Crime Investigation and Digital Forensics” for police personnel.

Speaking on the occasion, Khurania said the collaboration marks an important step in modernising Odisha Police and equipping its personnel to tackle emerging forms of cybercrime. He observed that offences such as mule account fraud, online investment scams and “digital arrest” frauds are increasing rapidly, making digital evidence and forensic investigation indispensable in criminal investigations.

He said police personnel must be proficient in collecting, preserving and analysing electronic evidence to ensure successful investigation and prosecution under the new criminal laws.

The DGP highlighted that Odisha has already established 20 dedicated cybercrime and economic offence police stations and equipped police stations across the state with advanced hardware and software worth nearly ₹15 crore. However, he said technology alone is not enough and must be supported by continuous skill development.

Under the agreement, Odisha Police and NFSU will collaborate not only on training but also on crime scene management, forensic research, higher education, development of forensic infrastructure and technical consultancy.

DGP Crime Branch Vinaytosh Mishra said the initiative would provide structured technical training to police personnel at different levels. A total of 480 officers and personnel from all 34 police districts and the Crime Branch will undergo training in 16 batches by January 2027. Each batch will have 30 participants, from the rank of constable to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).

The six-day programme will include five days of classroom and laboratory sessions at NFSU, followed by one day of practical training at the Cyber Complex.

Interacting with the first batch of trainees, Khurania said the true success of the programme would be reflected in their ability to conduct scientific investigations, preserve digital evidence and present legally admissible evidence before courts. He also encouraged the trainees to share their knowledge with fellow officers after returning to their respective districts.

Director, State Forensic Science Laboratory (SFSL), Dr. Santosh Bala; NFSU Campus Director Dr. Purvi Pokhariyal; Inspector General (Crime) Dr. Sarthak Sarangi; and other senior officers attended the programme. NFSU Associate Professor Dr. Bishwa Kallyan Dash coordinated the training.