Cyber forensic labs to come up in 34 cyber police stations
Bhubaneswar: Odisha police have decided to set up cyber forensic laboratories across 34 cyber crime police stations in the state. The new laboratories will be equipped with advanced tools to analyse electronic evidence, recover deleted data, and trace digital footprints, significantly boosting investigation and prosecution capabilities.
“As per the plan, we will set up dedicated cyber forensic laboratories at each of the 34 cyber crime police stations. In addition, a central cyber forensic laboratory will come up at the cyber complex of CID-CB in Bhubaneswar. While the central laboratory will host high-end forensic tools and servers, the station-level laboratories will be equipped with essential hardware, software, and infrastructure for day-to-day cybercrime investigation,” said DGP Y B Khurania.
Police have already initiated the process of selecting an agency for the supply, installation, and commissioning of IT hardware, forensic tools, and licensed software at the proposed laboratories. “With these laboratories, we aim to streamline investigations, improve response times, and enhance the overall effectiveness of cyber crime management,” Khurania said.
To support the initiative, the govt sanctioned the engagement of 170 cyber experts specialising in cyber forensics, digital investigations, cyber financial analysis, and information technology. They will be deployed across the 34 cyber police stations.
Police officials said these facilities will play a vital role in tackling crimes such as online fraud, identity theft, hacking, and cyber harassment. Police highlighted that the laboratories will also support training programmes, enabling personnel to develop expertise in handling complex digital evidence. “By decentralising forensic capabilities across all cyber crime stations, we hope to ensure faster response and greater accessibility for victims,” another police official said.
Khurania emphasised the govt’s commitment to equipping investigators with cutting-edge technology, noting that the move comes in response to a sharp rise in cyber-related incidents such as online fraud, data breaches, and identity theft.
As per Odisha police statistics, the state witnessed a 1917% surge in cybercrime cases over the past decade, climbing from just 124 cases in 2014 to 2,501 in 2024. The financial impact was equally alarming, with losses escalating from just Rs 8.97 crore in 2018 to a staggering Rs 154.5 crore in 2024 — a 1,622% increase. In a written reply in the assembly on Monday, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi informed that 3,486 people lost more than a staggering Rs 222 crore in just the past 16 months in the state.
“As per the plan, we will set up dedicated cyber forensic laboratories at each of the 34 cyber crime police stations. In addition, a central cyber forensic laboratory will come up at the cyber complex of CID-CB in Bhubaneswar. While the central laboratory will host high-end forensic tools and servers, the station-level laboratories will be equipped with essential hardware, software, and infrastructure for day-to-day cybercrime investigation,” said DGP Y B Khurania.
Police have already initiated the process of selecting an agency for the supply, installation, and commissioning of IT hardware, forensic tools, and licensed software at the proposed laboratories. “With these laboratories, we aim to streamline investigations, improve response times, and enhance the overall effectiveness of cyber crime management,” Khurania said.
To support the initiative, the govt sanctioned the engagement of 170 cyber experts specialising in cyber forensics, digital investigations, cyber financial analysis, and information technology. They will be deployed across the 34 cyber police stations.
Police officials said these facilities will play a vital role in tackling crimes such as online fraud, identity theft, hacking, and cyber harassment. Police highlighted that the laboratories will also support training programmes, enabling personnel to develop expertise in handling complex digital evidence. “By decentralising forensic capabilities across all cyber crime stations, we hope to ensure faster response and greater accessibility for victims,” another police official said.
Khurania emphasised the govt’s commitment to equipping investigators with cutting-edge technology, noting that the move comes in response to a sharp rise in cyber-related incidents such as online fraud, data breaches, and identity theft.
As per Odisha police statistics, the state witnessed a 1917% surge in cybercrime cases over the past decade, climbing from just 124 cases in 2014 to 2,501 in 2024. The financial impact was equally alarming, with losses escalating from just Rs 8.97 crore in 2018 to a staggering Rs 154.5 crore in 2024 — a 1,622% increase. In a written reply in the assembly on Monday, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi informed that 3,486 people lost more than a staggering Rs 222 crore in just the past 16 months in the state.
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