NFSU trained manpower yet to be posted in mobile FSLs
MHA seeks info on handling crime against women, children
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Nov 11: There is no discernible action on almost all the forensic science related recommendations made during the DGPs/IGPs conference held last year although Ministry of Home Affairs has sought action taken report from the Home Department and Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratory J&K.
During the last year’s conference, it was recommended that States and UTs Police should strive for creation of at least one mobile Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) unit in each district and the expert manpower required for manning FSLs should be developed in collaboration with National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU).
“Though the mobile Forensic Science Laboratory unit has been provided in almost all the districts of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir yet there is no compliance to the recommendation vis-à-vis NFSU trained manpower”, official sources told EXCELSIOR.
Each of the mobile Forensic Science Laboratory is being manned by one Laboratory Assistant and three-four police constables and none of them have been trained in NFSU, they informed, adding “in other States and UTs of the country, Senior Scientific Assistant heads the mobile FSL unit but in Jammu and Kashmir Laboratory Assistant is heading the same mainly because of lack of adequate manpower with the Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratory”.
Similarly, in order to achieve high conviction rate, it was recommended during the DGPs/IGPs conference that visit of FSL units should be institutionalized to all crime scenes for offences with punishment of seven years and more.
“No doubt Directorate of Forensic Sciences is making all out efforts in this direction but for want of adequate manpower it is finding it difficult to send experts to all crime scenes”, sources informed.
Further, it was recommended that heads of Police Force should prepare for early implementation of e-prosecution and e-forensics projects in their respective States and Union Territories. “However, there is no discernible progress on these aspects till date for the reasons best known to the head of the Police force”, sources said.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has also asked the J&K Government to reveal whether the NFSU has written to it for earmarking of Forensic Science Departments of the Universities for upgradation and strengthening and number of departments that have been developed as Centres of Excellence.
During the conference, it was recommended that all out efforts should be made to eradicate malpractices in registration of FIRs, handling crime against women and children cases with due sensitivity and promptness and exhibiting professionalism in crime prevention, detection and prosecution. Moreover, all police personnel should be sensitized in this regard.
Now, the Ministry of Home Affairs has sought action taken report on all these aspects and what has been the impact of the exercise. “Further, MHA wants to know how many Police Stations have held regular interaction with girl students in schools and colleges in their jurisdiction to understand the concerns to spread awareness about safety measures”, sources said while disclosing that this exercise has not been conducted by all the Police Stations across the Union Territory although recommendation was for everyone.
As MHA’s thrust is always on people-friendly policing, it has asked the J&K Government to reveal the instances of police misbehavior and necessary course correction steps. It was recommended during the conference that senior police officers will collate the instances of police misbehavior during a particular month for analysis besides disseminating the same among the force to create awareness on the ill-effects of such acts on the image of the police.
The J&K Police has further been asked by the MHA to reveal if a systematic analysis of geographical as well as temporal pattern of crime has been undertaken by senior police officers along the lines of similar exercise in the health sector.”If conducted what have been the findings and have these been useful in devising crime control strategies”, sources said quoting the directions of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
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