SHILLONG: There are more ministerial staff than the technical staff in the city-based office of Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) even as a senior police personnel, who is not from the forensic science background, has been appointed as the Director.
Lack of adequate number of technical staff coupled with absence of proper storage, and modern testing facilities hamper proper investigation of cases which further delays police investigation.
In the absence of a full time Director for the Forensic Science Laboratory, J . Rymmai, who is the Assistant IGP (establishment), has been attached as the Director in-charge FSL and Assistant IGP (works).
In a written reply to the queries made by The Shillong Times, the office of Forensic Science Laboratory said that while there are 15 technical staff, the number of ministerial staff is 18.
The cases pending till date include chemical division (33), biology division (17), documentary division (4), and physical division(2).
In all the four divisions, there is a need to appoint a total of 13 more staff. .
As per information provided, there are no examination facilities for explosive devices and live bombs, testing of unburnt explosive powder or flake, checking speaker identification and voice print analysis, Intercom, Local Area Network (LAN) & internet facilities, and Office Automation & Computerization of records in the FSL. The major area of concern is that FSL does not have DNA testing facilities.
As per the expansion plan, earlier, over Rs 68.98 lakh was allotted for mobile forensic units under the XIth Finance Commission.
As the present building near the Shillong Bar Association has limited rooms, a new building at a cost of over Rs 3 corore is being constructed at Mawdiangdiang.
According to officials, after the construction of the building, new units for DNA examination, cyber related crimes and explosive units will be established.
Sources suggested that there is a need to make Forensic Department like an autonomous institution as currently it is under the direct supervision of DGP, though there is no interference from the police.
