Dear Editor,
Through your esteemed daily, we are writing to the home minister’s good office regarding establishment of a regional forensic science laboratory (RFSL) as well as district mobile forensic units (DMFU) in Arunachal Pradesh.
We take the opportunity to inform you that the central government had allocated one RFSL as well as district FSL units in Arunachal, with a financial support of Rs 8 crore for the RFSL and Rs 1 crore per DMFU. The MoU has already been signed with the ministry concerned, and Rs 3.65 crore was released by the DFSS, MHA, for setting up of the same in the state in 2010. It is also learnt that, till date, an interest of Rs 50.19 lakhs has been accrued; thus a total of Rs 4.15 crore is parked for establishment of the RFSL and DMFUs in the state.
We would like to appeal to you to take up the matter on priority for early establishment of the RFSL in the capital complex, utilizing the amount of Rs 3.65 crore provided by the home affairs ministry to the state government, including the Rs 50.19 lakhs interest accrued.
We hope that the RFSL shall have a full-fledged biology/serology division, since the existing state forensic science laboratory at the Police Training Centre, Banderdewa, is devoid of the said facility. As such, related cases are being referred outside the state, which hampers the investigation of cases. Hence it is very important to establish a biology/serology department as well.
In addition, we request the state government to purchase the required number of mobile forensic science vans, equipped with amenities which will be helpful in undertaking preliminary spot tests at the crime scenes themselves, and in packing the collected forensic evidence.
I also take this opportunity to tell you that due to the absence of a well-equipped FSL in the entire Northeast region, so many cases are still pending. Forensic evidence plays a critical role in the investigation of serious crimes, including sexual assault cases, and the courts rely on it. The biggest impediment in the way of a speedy trial is the delay in filing of FSL reports.
For instance, some of the important cases in which FSL reports are awaited include those related to the murder of Arun Modi, a student of the Indra Gandhi Government College in Tezu.
The Lohit SP has informed us that they have not received the FSL report of the case, and it is almost one year since the sample of the deceased had been sent to the Kolkata FSL for tests. It is absurd to wait for so long for a forensic report.
On many occasions, a sample becomes useless by the time it is finally examined. In most of the cases, sometimes there is failure to get any expert opinion from the FSL because a sample becomes putrefied by the time it is evaluated.
Keeping in mind the importance of establishing an RFSL and DMFUs to curb the growing crime rate in the state, we appeal for your personal intervention in the matter.
We have high hope in your competence and your commitment towards the people of the state.
Sincerely,
Buteng Tayeng,
Secretary, State Affairs,
North East Human Rights Organization,
Guwahati, Assam