Bhubaneswar: In a major step towards strengthening cybercrime investigation and digital forensic capabilities, the Odisha Police's CID-Crime Branch on Tuesday signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), Bhubaneswar.

The agreement aims to enhance scientific investigation, improve cyber policing, and build the technical skills of police personnel to tackle the growing threat of cyber crimes.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Odisha Director General of Police (DGP) Yogesh Bahadur Khurania. The DGP also inaugurated a specialised training programme on cybercrime investigation and digital forensics.

Describing the partnership as a milestone in the modernisation of Odisha Police, Khurania said the five-year collaboration would create a strong foundation for capacity building and mark the beginning of a new chapter in cyber policing in the state.

He said the nature of crime is changing rapidly, with digital evidence now playing a crucial role in almost every criminal investigation. Referring to the rise in cyber offences such as mule account fraud, online investment scams and digital arrest frauds, the DGP said the new criminal laws have placed forensic science at the centre of criminal investigations. He stressed that every police officer must develop the ability to properly seize, preserve and handle electronic evidence.

Highlighting the state's efforts to strengthen cyber policing, Khurania said Odisha has established 20 new Cyber Crime and Economic Offence police stations and provided modern hardware and software worth nearly Rs 15 crore to police stations across the state. He said advanced training is essential for the effective use of these technologies.

The DGP added that the collaboration with NFSU would extend beyond training and cover crime scene management, higher education, joint research, development of forensic infrastructure and technical consultancy.