Forensic officials say that cops do not collect forensic samples, causing a pile-up; latter allege that there is a lack of coordination at the Kalina Forensic Lab
Forensic officials say that cops do not collect forensic samples, causing a pile-up; latter allege that there is a lack of coordination at the Kalina Forensic Lab
Unlike the popular series CSI where forensic experts scan and examine all evidence in a jiffy and solve the case, evidence from various crime scenes have been left for examination at the Kalina Forensic Laboratory (FSL) for quite some time. According to procedure, once the testing is done and the reports are dispatched, related police officials are supposed to collect the evidence. However, that seldom happens, despite repeated reminders sent by officials from the laboratory. 
Pic for representation
As a result, in the last three years, around 3,500 biological samples comprising murder evidence, clothes and 4,000 weapons and firearms falling under the ballistic category have been lying at the laboratory. "We, at the lab, suffer from acute shortage of forensic experts. Digging out these exhibits each time the court directs the police to produce evidence becomes a tedious exercise, requiring lots of manpower, which we don't have," said MV Garad, Director, Kalina FSL.
A senior official requesting anonymity said that till the related case continues in court, the exhibits have to be stored in the strong room and cannot be disposed off till the case reaches its final decision. Currently, the FSL, the only laboratory in the city and one of the most important one in the state has two strong rooms where the evidence is stored. The strong room comprises of samples including clothes, crime weapons like daggers, lathis, sickles and other items used for criminal acts.
"Every weapon used in a crime ranging from knives to sticks and stones, are sent to the lab for testing. When we dispatch a report, we also send a letter requesting the police to collect the items. This seldom happens," said the official. However, cops claim that they are over burdened with work and collecting samples from the FSL often takes a backseat. Officials also allege that there is a lack of coordination within the FSI that is responsible for the pile-up of evidence.
"There have been times, when we have sent constables to collect the samples and authorities at the FSL have kept them waiting for an entire day," said Rajkumar Vhatkar, deputy commissioner of police. "However, this is a serious issue and we will look into the matter," he added.
Evidence storedu00a0
* There are 800 samples related to toxicology from 2002-2010, out of which majority are cases of poisoning.
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* There are 800 petrol, diesel and drug samples collected from 1998-2011
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*u00a0There are 3,500 samples related to Biology from 2007-2010, including clothes and murder-related samples
*u00a0There are 4,000 samples of firearms and weapons collected from 2007-2010
3,500 Biological samples comprising murder evidence, clothes from 2007-2010 have been languishing in
the FSL, Kalina
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