Boost to policing in Nagaland: State gets first Mobile Forensic Vans

Nagaland DGP Rupin Sharma on Monday launched three Mobile Forensic Van at police headquarters, Kohima, making it the first ever in the state.

The Mobile Forensic Van consists of Finger Print Taking Kit, Latent Finger Print developer kit, foot & tire Print casting kit, forensic light source, blood detection kit, semen detection kit, evidence packing & collection kit, DNA collection & sexual assault kit.

Speaking at the launch programme, DGP Rupin Sharma asserted that this is a small step in enhancing the forensic capabilities in the state. The Forensic Science Laboratory in Nagaland is functional but not at an optimal capacity, he said.

Highlighting some of the issues faced by the Nagaland police, Sharma said replenishment of the kits for forensic is an area of concern and termed the provision of the vehicles and provision of the forensic science Laboratory a good beginning.

“What happens is once you have to leave a finger print which is there you have to put powder. All these kits and all which come, they come only with the limited quantity of powder so once that powder gets exhausted the kits cannot be used,” DGP Sharma said.

Sharma pointed out that on numerous occasions the quality of investigation depends on the quality of forensic evidence which is collected, especially the finger prints.

With the launch of War on Drugs in the state, Sharma said a large number of cases has been registered however, at the backend the lack of adequate forensic is a problem as they have to send the samples outside the state which also consumes more time and resources.

The DGP also maintained that Nagaland Police is facing budget constraints and they are trying to make efforts by collecting data from the DEF and other investigating units to see how they can approach the government for enhancing their budget with provision and capabilities in forensics.

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