Bhubaneswar, March 7: A DNA profiling unit was inaugurated today on the premises of the State Forensic Science Laboratory in the city. This is the first such centre of the state police.
The unit, manned by eight employees, was set up for Rs 6 crore and can take the order of at least 120 tests per month.
Director-general of police Sanjeev Marik said the unit would help in crime detection. "The DNA profiling is extensively used in a variety of criminal cases such as murder, sexual offence, baby swapping and identification of mutilated bodies. The unit has added another chapter in the modernisation of the state police," he said.
Earlier, DNA samples used to be sent to laboratories in Bengal, Hyderabad and Chandigarh. "Sometimes the test reports were available after six months that badly delayed the investigations. But with the new facility, the investigation process will be expedited," said a police official.
Authorities said training would be imparted to police officials for the collection of evidence. "We will also assist them through mobile phones during the collection of evidence. Besides, the unit will also be helpful for research scholars," said laboratory director A.K. Bapuli.
The DNA test report will now take around 15 days depending upon the condition of the samples. "If the sample gets decomposed by the time it reaches the testing centre, the report may get late. But otherwise, for fresh samples, the report will be available within 15 days," said an official.
Inaugurating the unit, chief minister Naveen Patnaik said the government had taken various steps to modernise the police force. "Criminal investigation, which forms a critical component of policing, must adopt modern methods. Use of the DNA in criminal investigation is an important step in that direction, and it will give greater confidence in the minds of people," he said.
At present, the laboratory conducts chemical examinations in various divisions such as physics (examination of plastics, soil, paint); ballistics (examination of firearms); chemistry (testing of liquor and narcotic drugs); toxicology (examination of viscera, food, drinks); serology (examination of origin of biological stains) and some more.
