Sukhu opens high-tech digital forensic hub

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today inaugurated the newly established Digital Forensic Division and an Advanced Equipment Laboratory at the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL), Northern Range, Dharamsala, a significant step towards modernising scientific investigation in Himachal Pradesh. Developed at an investment of nearly Rs 3 crore, the digital division is equipped with sophisticated forensic tools capable of retrieving and analysing data from damaged, locked or formatted devices, a capability increasingly critical in contemporary crime investigations.

With five sanctioned posts and high-end infrastructure, the Digital Forensic Division will substantially strengthen the capacity of law enforcement agencies engaged in probing cybercrimes, financial frauds, POCSO and sexual assault cases, homicides, road accidents and suspicious deaths. Its notification by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) as an Examiner of Electronic Evidence under Section 79A of the IT Act, 2000, grants it national-level recognition and ensures the admissibility of its findings in courts across the country.

Alongside this, the Chief Minister also inaugurated a Modern Scientific Equipment Laboratory constructed by HPSIDC at a cost of Rs 1.05 crore and furnished with an additional Rs 1.5 crore worth of advanced instruments for the Biology & Serology and Chemistry & Toxicology divisions. These upgraded facilities are expected to deliver faster, more precise and higher-quality forensic results, bolstering transparency and reliability in investigations across Kangra, Chamba, Una, Hamirpur, Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti districts.

Operational since 2012, RFSL-Dharamsala currently functions through five specialised divisions — biology & serology, chemistry & toxicology, document & photography, dna and digital forensics. The laboratory is also deeply engaged in research, teaching and capacity building, conducting regular training programmes for police personnel, prosecutors, judicial officers, medical officers and students.

Maintaining international benchmarks, RFSL-Dharamsala has been NABL accredited since 2018 and consistently participates in global proficiency testing with organisations such as UNODC, Government Laboratory-Hong Kong, AFSN and AICEF GITAD-Spain. These collaborations reinforce accuracy and continuous improvement, positioning the Dharamsala lab among India’s leading forensic institutions.