Forensic science lab reports found eaten up by termites

Hina Rohtaki

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, December 18

In what can be termed “sheer carelessness” on the part of the Panchkula police, reports from the forensic science laboratory (FSL) in a fraud case were found eaten up by termites when these were submitted in a local court here today. Taking serious note, the court rapped the local station house officer and the munshi for the lapse.

Besides being reprimanded, the SHO of the Sector 20 police station, Inspector Surinder Kumar, and the munshi, Murari Lal, were made to sit outside the court for the entire day for the lapse.

Sources said the case pertained to 2011 when some persons were arrested on charge of impersonation for allegedly taking exams in place of someone else. The exam was conducted for the appointment of conductors. The answer sheets were sent to forensic laboratory.

The SHO said, “The report was kept in a corner of the police station, which got affected by termites, but a large part of it is still legible. Some walls of the police station have been affected by seepage. We will try our best to make another copy available to the court.” The reports are an important evidence in the case. DCP Hamid Akhtar said, “I am not aware of it. If this has happened, it’s a serious issue and won’t be tolerated. Once I get written instructions from the court, I will take action.”

SHO misses conference

After the court pulled him up, the SHO kept sitting outside the court throughout the day. He remained conspicuous by his absence at a conference of the One Stop Crisis Centre where all SHOs and in charge of police posts were asked to be present.