Video-conferencing facility launched at Dharamsala lab

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, November 13

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Tuesday inaugurated the video-conferencing facility at Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL), Northern Range, Dharamsala. The state-of-art for expert testimony through video-conferencing was created under the State Innovation Fund and dedicated 2 mbps line was provided by the Information and Technology Department of the state.

The Chief Minister said the video-conferencing facility would save hours that forensic experts spent on transit and would help utilise the saved time in generating quality reports after analysis of cases. It would also expedite disposal of criminal cases.

He also laid the foundation stone of DNA block at Regional Forensic Science Laboratory. It will be constructed at a cost Rs 1 crore and will help districts like Chamba, Kangra and Una get DNA reports from the RFSL, Dharamsala.

The Chief Minister said the construction of the building should be completed within a year and also directed officials to put up other requirements of the department to encourage use of more scientific tools, which were employed in criminal investigations. He also appreciated the efforts of the department and formally released the first NABL accredited report of the cyber crime of Kangra.

Thakur said the RFSL, Dharamsala, was the first regional lab in the country to get accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for testing and had successfully participated in proficiency testing for the past two years with Asia’s best government forensic laboratory.

Director, State Forensic Science Laboratory, Junga, Arun Sharma said DNA testing was also being planned for the RFSL, Mandi, and Himachal would become the first state in the country to have the facility in all forensic labs.

Urban Development Minister Sarveen Chaudhary, Industries Minister Bikram Singh Thakur and other officials were present on the occasion.