Punjab Newsline, Shimla-
CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today flagged-off six state-of-the-art mobile forensic vans from his official residence, Oak Over. In the first phase, these vehicles would be deployed at three District Forensic Units (Baddi, Nurpur, Bilaspur), the State Forensic Lab in Junga and the Regional Forensic Science Laboratories at Dharamshala and Mandi.
The Chief Minister also released the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) handbook “Forensic Evidence Collection, Preservation & Storage”, a set of uniform guidelines for investigating officers and medical professionals and unveiled specially designed jackets for forensic experts visiting crime scenes on this occasion.
Sukhu said “The advanced vehicles would 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 conviction rates and improve the justice delivery system.
Each van, costing Rs. 65 lakh, is 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 cameras, 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, fibers, 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.
“This initiative will bring greater transparency to evidence collection and speed up the process of establishing criminal culpability,” said the Chief Minister. 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 conviction rates. The Directorate of Forensic Services in Himachal Pradesh currently extends its expertise not only to state investigation agencies but also to central bodies including the CBI, NIA, and ED.
MLA Sanjay Awasthi, Principal Advisor (media) to the Chief Minister Naresh Chauhan, Additional Chief Secretary KK Pant, DGP Ashok Tiwari, Director, Forensics Services, Dr Meenakshi Mahajan and other senior officers were also present on the occasion.