Nagaland: NFSA calls for strengthening forensic science capabilities

May 5, 2023 18 Views No Comment

DIMAPUR, MAY 5 (MExN): The Nagaland Forensic Science Association (NFSA), while appreciating the recent flagging off of 3 Mobile Forensic Vans, has called for more efforts to strengthen forensic science capabilities in the State.

A press release from the NFSA stated that with regard to the limited amount of kits, most of the kits supply can be replenished if skilled Forensic Science personnel are recruited into the lab, as most of the kits requires common laboratory chemicals and equipments to be prepared, thereby reducing cost and time factor.

The association reminded that a proposal for creation of 9 scientific posts for the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) was published on September 27, 2018 and accordingly the department submitted the Draft Service Rules in 2018-2019. But it has been more than 5 years and there is still no advertisement released for the said posts, it rued.

It informed that the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) of Nagaland was set up in 1982 with only Fingerprint and Photography Divisions at Razaphe Village, Dimapur and it was later shifted to the new three storey building in September 2018 at Kachari Goan, Dimapur with additional 5 new departments created but so far there has been no recruitments.

The NFSA also expressed dismay over none advertisements of the said post in the recently released NPSC-CTSE vacancies. “Keeping in mind the delay, need of the state and age factor of candidates the matter should be taken up at the earliest by the responsible authorities and State Government,” it stated.

It informed that the Manipur and Mizoram Forensic Science Laboratories have a total of 15 Scientific/Technical staffs, Tripura has 26 Technical Staffs and deploys 6 Scientific Officer, 6 Scientific Assistant in three District Mobile Forensic, while also citing the recent Sikkim and Tripura Forensic Science Laboratory recruitment of Scientific Officer through respective State Public Service Commission.

The association highlighted that urgent attention and development is required in the state in the field of forensics and a matter of priority today to tackle increasing crime rates.

It informed that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had on October 8, 2022 chaired a meeting with the Chief Ministers, Chief Secretaries and Director Generals of Police of all North East States and said that every state should have one fully functional Forensic Science Laboratory and that the Government of India is ready to give financial assistant of 50% in this endeavor.

The association urged the State Government and the Government of India to process the said posts and also process more recruitment of technical staff to make the Forensic Science Laboratory fully functional with the major departments operating to its full capacity.