Chandigarh, August 7- Haryana will have a full-fledged division for Computer Forensics and it would be possible to take up the cases of Mobile Forensics and E-mail tracking. Also, Haryana has taken a lead by taking up the project of creation of DNA profile database of unidentified dead bodies so as to identify the deceased persons at the time of claim by their family members or relatives.
While stating this today, Mr Ranjiv Singh Dalal, Director General of Police, Haryana said that Mobile Forensic Units were established at all the four range headquarters. Now this network has grown to a full-fledged fleet of Mobile Forensic Units at each district headquarter. The technical staff strength of Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) has gone up to 140 from 24 in 1976. Similarly the disposal of crime cases has also gone up to 8000 in 2010 from 1186 in 1976. The whole credit goes to its scientists without whose efforts it would not have been possible, he added.He said Forensic Services need upgradation every other day to cope up with the fast pace of changing crimes being committed in our society. Facilities for DNA and Computer Forensics have been created during last few years. The project of creation of DNA profile database of unidentified dead bodies has been taken up by this unit. This will enable to identify the person at the time of claim by family members of the deceased. Haryana has taken a lead to initiate this kind of project. The Government has sanctioned an additional unit in DNA for this purpose and to start Mitochondrial DNA examination, the Computer Forensics work was initiated in Questioned Documents with Disk Forensics.
He said that a full-fledged division has been sanctioned for Computer Forensics and now it will be possible to take up the cases of Mobile Forensics & E-mail tracking. FSL Haryana is among one of the leading Forensic Labs in India and is capable of providing scientific aid in all aspects required by investigating agencies. The Laboratory has scientific facilities of international standards and got accreditation as per ISO/IEC-17025 in December, 2004. FSL, Haryana was first in Northern India to get this accreditation. The Department is committed to provide full support to maintain the established standards in FSL, Haryana.
It is matter of pride that in the country, the facilities for diatoms examination in drowning cases are available in FSL Haryana only and Haryana is also catering to the needs of adjoining states. Recently in a controversial case of National Importance (Shopian Murder Case), the services of Diatomology unit of this laboratory were utilized by CBI and AIIMS. The new block will accommodate DNA, Computer Forensics, Brain-mapping and Narco analysis and would fulfill its needs of accommodation. Brain Mapping and Narco Analysis will be started shortly.
There was a huge pendency of cases in FSL and 4388 number of crime cases were pending on January 1, 2007. The pendency was brought to zero in December 2009. Now as on July 1, 2011, as many as 1403 cases were pending for examination. He hoped that special drives would be initiated to again bring the pendency to zero and target should be to send the report within 15 days after the receipt of case in the laboratory. Along with case work examination, the research work should also be continued to keep the methodology up to date.
Forensic Science Laboratory, Haryana has come a long way with its establishment in a rented building at Rohtak in 1973. In 1976, it was shifted to its present building at Madhuban. Initially, the Laboratory was started with facilities for Ballistics, Chemistry, Physics and Biology and Serology Divisions. Keeping in view, the requirements of the investigating agencies the facilities for examination of Questioned Documents and Forensic Psychology were created in 1981. Initially, on the spot scientific assistance at crime scene was provided from Madhuban only.