Uttarakhand police recently welcomed its first two ‘cyber-commandos’ after they completed a rigorous six-month training in cybercrime sciences at IIT Kanpur. This initiative is part of a nationwide program initiated by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to establish a specialized cybercrime response force.
DSP Ankush Mishra of the special task force (STF) and state cyber police unit made the announcement on Saturday, highlighting that senior sub-inspector Vinod Bisht and constable Sudhish Khatri successfully completed the training in cybercrime sciences at IIT Kanpur from October 7 last year to April 4. Additionally, two more sub-inspectors from the state are currently undergoing training at the National Forensic Sciences University (Delhi campus) and are expected to join the ranks of cyber-commandos soon.
The cyber-commando training program was launched by the Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) in collaboration with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the MHA on October 1 last year. The primary goal of this program is to equip police forces with advanced tools and knowledge to effectively combat the increasing sophistication of cyber threats.
According to Mishra, the two cyber-commandos have received specialized training in various areas such as digital forensics, cybersecurity, threat intelligence, cryptocurrency, cryptography, and networking. Their expertise is set to significantly enhance the unit’s capabilities in investigating complex cybercrime cases and safeguarding the state’s IT infrastructure.
Uttarakhand has emerged as one of the top contributors to the cyber-commando force, securing the third position in the number of police personnel nominated for the training. Mishra also mentioned that in the next phase, 72 more personnel from the state will undergo training. Among the current candidates, three individuals from Uttarakhand have achieved the second, sixth, and tenth national ranks, showcasing the state’s commitment to building a strong cybercrime response force.
The overall objective of the training program is to develop an elite cybercrime unit consisting of 5,000 personnel over the next five years. The training curriculum includes modules on ethical hacking, cyber law, malware analysis, and digital evidence handling, designed to equip officers with practical problem-solving skills in real-time scenarios.
The induction of the first cyber-commandos in Uttarakhand marks a significant step towards enhancing the state’s cybersecurity preparedness and ensuring a proactive response to cyber threats. With the specialized training received at premier institutions like IIT Kanpur and the National Forensic Sciences University, these cyber-commandos are poised to play a crucial role in safeguarding the digital infrastructure of the state and addressing the complex challenges posed by cybercriminal activities.