The Hindu : National : Chidambaram asks police to go in for new technology

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Chidambaram asks police to go in for new technology

Special Correspondent

— Photo: PTI

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot at the All India Forensic Science Conference in Jaipur on Sunday.

JAIPUR: Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram announced here on Sunday a series of measures, including the launch of a DNA databank and amendments to the Arms Act in the next one year, for improving the country’s crime investigation techniques.

Crime investigation needed drastic improvements as the police continued adopting “primitive methods” to track down culprits, he said, inaugurating the XX All India Forensic Science Conference at the Rajasthan Police Academy.

Mr. Chidambaram said there was still a huge gap in the crime investigation methods adopted in the West and in India. “In the next 12 months—in 2010—we will bridge this gap, and I promise to help you [in this regard],” he said. “The police in this country should move away from adopting primitive methods. Go for new technology which is abundantly available.”

Terming 2010 the “forensic year,” Mr. Chidambaram said the rapid modernisation plan for the next 12 months included the opening of six new regional forensic laboratories, 52 new mobile units, three new hi-tech central laboratories and three new hi-tech GUFDs. Steps would be taken to open a DNA databank, a firearm signature databank and arms and criminal tracking network, besides networking of all forensic laboratories. The Arms Policy was under review, and a new one would be ready in a few days. Changes would also be made in the Arms Act.

The three-day conference is being attended by forensic scientists and senior police officials, besides a few experts from abroad. The inaugural session was addressed by Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Home Minister Shanti Dhariwal.

Mr. Chidambaram said though qualified personnel were available, many posts in forensic laboratories remained vacant. There was need to upgrade the syllabi of the forensic courses and adopt new crime detection techniques.

The country also required new laws for application of modern techniques in crime investigation, including the DNA testing. A Bill was ready. “Thirty countries already have laws. We too will have it soon,” he said.

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