Srinagar, June 26: Governor NN Vohra Tuesday called upon the Forensic Science experts to utilize the latest scientific approaches and techniques for “detection and investigation of organized crime, mafia and militant offences to establish irrefutable scientific evidence for bringing the criminals to book.”
 “Crime is not what it used to be half a century ago when footprints were traced to apprehend criminals. Today, criminality is without geographical or territorial boundaries. Mafia and militant groups are committing remote-controlled crime and perpetrating violence by using state-of-the-art weapons and equipment,” Vohra said, inaugurating the three-day All India Forensic Science Conference at SK International Convention Centre (SKICC) here.
 Vohra, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said: “The investigating agencies and Forensic Sciences experts have to be several steps ahead of criminals to effectively deal with them. This calls for closer-coordination among the investigation agencies, real time exchange of data and investigation findings and use of advanced gadgetry, hi-tech labs and techniques for cracking difficult criminal cases.”   
 The Conference has been organized by the Directorate of Forensic Science Services, Union Ministry of Home Affairs in collaboration with the Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratory, Jammu and Kashmir.
 Referring to Jammu and Kashmir, the Governor said that there is urgent need for building capacities and upgrading forensic science laboratories in the state. “This facility is required to be established at the district level for timely investigation of cases,” he said.
 While expressing satisfaction that Centre had sanctioned five Mobile Forensic Science Laboratories for the State, Vohra called for “urgent steps to upgrade this facility at the State level.”
 He observed that for ensuring effective investigations and competent prosecution of cases “we have to strengthen our crime detection and investigation mechanisms by upgrading our forensic science labs.”
 The Governor congratulated the Union Home Ministry and the State Home Department for organizing the Conference on a very relevant theme and believed that the recommendations of this Conference, in which experts from within the country and abroad are participating, would be of immense importance for the State vis-à-vis detection and investigation of crime.
 Nasir Aslam Wani, Minister of State for Home stressed on the need for setting up an Academy of Forensic Sciences in the State. “We are in the process of putting in place a strong human resource of forensic science experts for undertaking DNA profiling, voice identification and effectively dealing with cyber crime and other acts of criminality,” he said.
 Dr. C. N. Bhatacharya, Director/Chief Forensic Scientist, Directorate of Forensic Science Services, Union Ministry of Home Affairs, spoke about aim of the Conference. He said that such annual Conferences bring together forensic scientists and other concerned to share their knowledge and approaches. He disclosed that three advanced Forensic Science Laboratories have been set up at Pune, Bhopal and Guwahati to strengthen forensic services in the country.
 Bhagwan Shankar, Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Home Affairs focused on manpower, training as well as equipment, technologies and practices for effective detection and investigation of crime. He emphasized that to secure desirable results formulation of a workable Action Plan is the need of the hour.        
 In his welcome address, B. R. Sharma, Principal Secretary, Home, said that this Conference is being held for the first time in J&K. “For collecting irrefutable evidence to bring guilty to book there is need for optimal utilization of modern technologies and techniques for effective investigation of criminal cases,” he said.
 Inayat-Ullah-Khan, Director, Forensic Science Laboratory, presented Vote of Thanks.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 26 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 26 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 27 Jun 2012 00:00:00 IST