Six mobile forensic vans flagged off, will strengthen crime investigation

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu flagged off six state-of-the-art mobile forensic vans here today. In the first phase, these vehicles would be deployed at three district forensic units at Baddi, Nurpur, Bilaspur, State Forensic Lab at Junga and the Regional Forensic Science Laboratories at Dharamsala and Mandi.

The Chief Minister also released the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Handbook - “Forensic Evidence Collection, Preservation and Storage”, a set of uniform guidelines for investigating officers and medical professionals and unveiled specially-designed jackets for forensic experts visiting crime scenes on the occasion.

He said, “These advanced vehicles will enable scientific and speedy evidence collection, ensuring preservation and secure storage at the crime scene.” Strengthening forensic investigation through modern technology, he added, would enhance the conviction rate and improve the justice delivery system.

Each van, costing Rs 65 lakh, would be equipped with cutting-edge forensic tools, including drug and explosive detection systems, fingerprint and footprint development kits, DNA sampling kits, arson detection kits, refrigeration units, portable generators, cyber-forensic software, high-resolution video documentation systems, microscopes, GPS-enabled body-worn cameras, DSLR and CCTV cameras and other essential apparatus.

These integrated kits would assist investigators in examining a wide range of evidentiary materials such as fingerprints, biological fluids, hair, gunshot and explosive residues, bite marks, questioned documents, tyre impressions, footwear prints, narcotics and other trace evidence. The mobile units are designed to ensure immediate and contamination-free collection, preventing degradation or loss of crucial forensic material.

The Chief Minister said, “This initiative will bring greater transparency to evidence collection and speed up the process of establishing criminal culpability.”

As crime patterns evolve, investigative machinery, too, must be upgraded. These vans would not only expedite forensic services but also ensure reliable and accurate evidence collection, thereby boosting the conviction rate. The Directorate of Forensic Services in Himachal Pradesh at present extends its expertise not only to state investigation agencies but also to central organisations such the CBI, NIA and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).