Over 170 Police Personnel Trained to Trace Digital Footprints Using OSINT and Free Tools
Lucknow: In a significant step towards strengthening smart policing and modern investigative capabilities, the Specialized Training Branch of the Lucknow Police Commissionerate organised a one-day special training workshop on the effective use of social media tools for investigation and information gathering.
The workshop was conducted in compliance with the directions of the Uttar Pradesh Government and Police Headquarters. It was held under the direction of Police Commissioner Lucknow, Amrendra Kumar Sengar, and under the guidance of Joint Police Commissioner (Administration & Crime) Aparna Kumar, Joint Police Commissioner (Law & Order) Bablu Kumar, and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Headquarters) Anil Kumar Yadav. The training programme took place at the Seminar Hall of the Reserve Police Lines on January 12, 2026.
The objective of the workshop was to enhance the capacity of police personnel in identifying criminals’ digital footprints and collecting intelligence through Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) and free social media tools. Keeping in view the growing use of digital platforms by criminals, the session focused on equipping officers with advanced technological skills to ensure faster and more effective investigations.
The training was organised under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner of Police (Women Crime)/Cyber Crime, Ms. Soumya Pandey. The technical sessions were conducted by Sub-Inspector Arvind Kumar Verma, In-charge of the Social Media Cell, UPATS, along with his expert team. Participants were trained in the practical use of tools such as Open Source platforms, Netgrid, Epieos, Namint, DNS Checker and other free digital resources to trace suspects and gather actionable intelligence.
During the workshop, experts demonstrated how email IDs and other available digital data can be analysed to establish a suspect’s digital footprint. Scientific methods of collecting social media-based evidence during investigations were also explained in detail, highlighting their relevance in modern policing.
The training programme was conducted in two sessions—from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm and from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Participants included members of Social Media SWAT teams from all zones of Lucknow, nominated Sub-Inspectors of the 2023 batch from various police stations, and computer- and social media-savvy constables and head constables. In total, more than 170 police personnel benefited from the workshop.
Officials stated that such specialised training programmes play a crucial role in improving the quality and speed of investigations. By integrating modern technology and digital intelligence into routine policing, the Lucknow Police Commissionerate aims to stay ahead of evolving cyber and digital crime challenges and ensure more effective law enforcement.
