Partners in Safety: HPU and Police Join Hands for a Secure Future

HPU and Himachal Pradesh Police collaborate to raise awareness on drug abuse and cybercrime

Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Tiwari on Monday urged students of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) to serve as the “eyes and ears” of society and play an active role in combating drug abuse and cybercrime.

He was addressing a joint awareness campaign on drug abuse, organized by the Himachal Pradesh Police and HPU, aimed at sensitizing students to the risks of substance addiction, cyber threats, and the legal safeguards available to them.

The program was coordinated by Dean of Student Welfare, Prof. Mamta Mokta, who welcomed the DGP and other senior police officials.

In his address, Tiwari advised students to remain vigilant, observe their surroundings, and report any suspicious activity immediately by calling helplines 112 or 1930, or by contacting the nearest police station. He also highlighted the growing dangers of cybercrime, outlining preventive steps and the support systems in place.

Citing the state’s initiatives under Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s leadership, the DGP noted that the police department is focusing on awareness campaigns, rehabilitation and counseling, stronger law enforcement, technological interventions, community and youth engagement, and policy-level coordination to tackle drug abuse and cybercrime more effectively. He also interacted directly with students, answering questions and clarifying the measures taken by the police.

In a major step forward, HPU signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state police to provide academic and technical support for strengthening cyber security.

The collaboration will focus on research and development in artificial intelligence, cyber security, cyber forensics, and capacity building. It will also give students internship opportunities to understand police functioning, while enabling police officers to benefit from applied research, training workshops, and knowledge exchange.

Both institutions will work together on data analytics for evidence-based policing, predictive models for crime trends, and social network analysis to map criminal networks. HPU will also assist in developing specialized curricula and training protocols for cybercrime investigations.

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Mahavir Singh said the partnership would not only enhance policing capabilities but also open up new avenues of innovation and research for students and faculty alike.