The 11th INTERPOL Digital Forensics Expert Group Meeting’s inaugural ceremony at the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) in Gandhinagar, set to be opened by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, was called off following a day of national mourning declared by the Centre after the passing of former Qatar Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. NFSU announced the cancellation of the inauguration scheduled for July 13 at 11 a.m. due to the national mourning.
The university urged media representatives not to visit its Gandhinagar campus until further notice. NFSU’s Campus Director Prof. (Dr.) S.O. Junare issued a statement requesting all media personnel to refrain from coming to NFSU, Gandhinagar presently, with a revised program schedule to be shared soon.
Amit Shah was slated to inaugurate the 11th INTERPOL Digital Forensics Expert Group Meeting alongside Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, and NFSU Vice-Chancellor Dr. J.M. Vyas. The event aimed to gather representatives from 47 countries and senior law enforcement officials to deliberate on advancements in digital forensic investigations.
The inauguration program was also supposed to feature the unveiling of three new Centres of Excellence at NFSU, focusing on financial crime investigation, media forensics, and crime scene management. Additionally, Asia’s first ‘Cyber Forensic Investigation Van’ was to be introduced, alongside an exhibition showcasing over 30 companies specializing in digital forensics and cybersecurity. NFSU, in collaboration with INTERPOL, is scheduled to host the first International Investigation Competition and a summit on ‘AI-enabled Digital Forensic Investigation’ on July 15, bringing together investigators, forensic professionals, and academics from around the globe.
