Nagaland Police launches three mobile forensic science laboratory vans

KOHIMA — In a first and a major boost to modernisation of the state Police department, Director General of Police (DGP) Rupin Sharma on Monday launched three mobile forensic science laboratory (FSL) vans at the Nagaland Police headquarters in Kohima.

Addressing the launching event, attended by the senior police officers and staff, the DGP said Nagaland Police is enhancing its forensic capabilities and that the forensic laboratory in Dimapur, which is functioning, will be replenished with forensic kits.

Sharma said that though the Police department has budgetary constraints, yet it is making efforts to collect data from central investigation units to enhance forensic capabilities, while noting that quality of investigation depends on quality of forensic evidence collected.

Pointing out that the department will have to put in more efforts, the police chief expressed optimism that both the Government of India and Government of Nagaland will extend help and guidance to the Police department to enhance its forensic capabilities.

Maintaining that Nagaland Police has launched war against drug, Sharma however informed that due to lack of adequate forensic laboratories in the state, police still have to send samples outside the state.

The DGP exuded hope that despite challenges, the Police department will be able to manage and replenish the kits of mobile forensic laboratories which, Sharma said, will be a huge achievement.

Earlier, DIG (Planning & Development) Jatila Jamir, in her opening remark said the Mobile Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) vans were approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) under police modernisation in the year 2021-22, to enhance the state police force’s capabilities.

Jamir informed that the FSL vans are equipped with crime scene investigation kits like finger print kit, latent finger print development, foot & tire print casting kit, forensic light source, blood detection kit, semen detection kit, evidence packing and collection kit, DNA collection & sexual assault kit, crime scene cordoning/ protection kit alongwith jacket for scientific staff.

The officer also informed that the newly-launched FSL vans will be kept with the Forensic Science laboratory in Dimapur.

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