The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Tips from experts not getting translated into action

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Saturday, Aug 16, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Tips from experts not getting translated into action

No matter how skilful the investigator is, inputs of forensic experts always help, writes
Marri Ramu

The proposal that forensic science should be effectively used to detect tricky cases was mooted several times. The same point was reiterated at a national seminar organised a few weeks ago by Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Ramanthapur.

But the fact that 60 police stations in the city have just one scientific officer in CLUES team to depend upon indicates that such ideas are not getting translated into actions. More disappointing is the situation at Cyberabad Commissionerate. Here, not even a single full-time scientific officer is available. Despite witnessing highest crime rate in the State, officials of Cyberabad are completing their investigations with one fingerprint expert.

M.S. Rao, Chief Forensic Scientist of the Directorate of Forensic Sciences, Ministry of Home Affairs, speaking at the seminar opined that a comprehensive approach with focus on protection of crime scene and adopting precautions at morgues was the need of the hour. The basic principle of ensuring the scene of offence was intact till arrival of police and forensic experts is neglected in many cases.

The murder of teenager Arushi at Noida in Uttar Pradesh was a classic example. Though not sensational, similar cases were reported in the city as well. A year ago, the Rajendranagar police nabbed two men in connection with a couple of murders. During interrogation, the duo confessed to have committed three more murders at Shamshabad.

Surprise element

To their surprise, investigators found that the local police registered cases of suspicious death in those three cases and hurriedly altered the sections to murder. In another case, they held a labourer on charge of killing 13 women in past three years. Indirectly, police conceded that they failed to notice the crime pattern though the killer was on the prowl for three years targeting women on the city’s outskirts.

Mr. Rao’s idea to have dedicated teams of forensic experts, frequent interaction with police officers and taking precautions while collecting viscera and other samples at mortuaries will no doubt improve the quality of investigation.

But facilities available at the field level are far below vis-À-vis the idea of effective utilisation of forensic science, he observed.

When there is no full-time scientific officer, naturally the crucial interaction with the investigator is not possible. Apparently, this is what has led to registration of murder cases as suspicious deaths and failure to identify the serial killer at an early stage. These cases emphasise that, however skilful the investigator may be, assistance of a qualified professional always helps.

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