Himachal Pradesh News
Himachal CM Sukhu Unveils Cutting-Edge Digital Forensic Hub in Dharamsala to Boost Crime Investigation
Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inaugurates a state-of-the-art Digital Forensic Division and Advanced Equipment Laboratory at RFSL Dharamsala, enhancing cybercrime, forensic and high-tech criminal investigation capabilities across the state.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday inaugurated the newly established Digital Forensic Division and an Advanced Equipment Laboratory at the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL), Northern Range, Dharamsala—marking a major upgrade in the state’s scientific and digital investigation capabilities.
Developed at an investment of nearly ₹3 crore, the Digital Forensic Division is equipped with sophisticated tools capable of retrieving and examining data from damaged, locked, or formatted devices, an increasingly critical requirement in modern criminal investigations. With five sanctioned posts and advanced infrastructure, the division will significantly strengthen law enforcement efforts in probing cybercrimes, financial frauds, POCSO and sexual assault cases, homicides, road accidents and suspicious deaths.
The division has also been notified by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) as an Examiner of Electronic Evidence under Section 79A of the IT Act, 2000—granting it national recognition and ensuring that its reports are admissible in courts across India.
Alongside the digital division, the Chief Minister also inaugurated a Modern Scientific Equipment Laboratory constructed by HPSIDC at a cost of ₹1.05 crore and further equipped with instruments worth ₹1.5 crore for the Biology & Serology and Chemistry & Toxicology divisions. These upgraded facilities are expected to provide quicker, more precise and higher-quality forensic results, enhancing transparency and reliability in investigations across Kangra, Chamba, Una, Hamirpur, Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti districts.
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Operational since 2012, RFSL Dharamsala currently functions through five specialised units—Biology & Serology, Chemistry & Toxicology, Document & Photography, DNA and Digital Forensics. The laboratory also plays a key role in research and training, regularly conducting capacity-building programmes for police personnel, prosecutors, judicial officers, medical officers and students.
Committed to global quality standards, RFSL Dharamsala has been accredited by NABL since 2018 and frequently participates in international proficiency testing conducted by UNODC, Government Laboratory-Hong Kong, AFSN and AICEF GITAD-Spain. These collaborations help maintain accuracy and continuous improvement, placing the Dharamsala facility among the leading forensic institutions in the country.
