Forensic lab in the offing
6 February 2010
The bureau of law and order under the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs, in coordination with health, police and other departments, is planning to set up a national forensic laboratory in the country, according to the Law and Order Director, Karma Tshering Namgyal.
The cabinet has in principle endorsed the establishment of a National Forensic Science Laboratory as an autonomous agency. A team of officials are drafting the master plan for the lab.
“We are still in the planning stage. We will have to draw up a detailed report for the government,” Karma
Tshering Namgyal said.
The absence of a forensic lab in the country has led to many pending court cases. Paro district court sentenced a 43-year-old gomchen to life imprisonment for double murder on December 30 last year after waiting for forensic test reports from Kolkata for almost two years.
The Police Act of Bhutan states that the royal government shall establish independent forensic laboratories to provide forensic examinations related to criminal activity including cyber crimes and facilitate and promote sharing of expertise and information about the examination of any evidence.
Captain Lobzang Phuentsho, a forensic biologist with the Royal Bhutan Police, said the police have introduced a basic forensic service unit at their headquarters in Thimphu. “Fingerprint and DNA analysis are in place but we have limited access to forensic services because we do not have a forensic lab,” he said.
He said that some policemen have been trained as basic forensic crime scene investigators, creating a demand for a forensic facility.
According to him, the Central Forensic Laboratory in Kolkata took more than a year to come out with a test result because of high demand for its services, which are provided free of cost. On average, it took six months to get a result.
The delay in forensic reports sometimes leads to illegal detention.
Dr Pakila Dukpa, a forensic specialist at the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital in Thimphu, said the hospital gets cases which need forensic assistance. Cases like toxicology, disputed paternity, murder, rape, and poisoning need forensic tests. Today, the hospital sends its samples to a forensic lab in Sri Lanka.
“If we have a forensic lab in the country, it will address many inconveniences,” he said.
By Tandin Pem
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Loading ...Zakar for Wednesday March 10 2010
25th Day of the 01st Month - Iron Male Tiger Year Year
Auspicious for: Conducting jin-seg, sri-nen and lue-cho.
Inauspicious for: Construction of new ten-sung, conducting consecration and blessing ceremonies, arranging marriage, conducting tor-zor, starting construction of houses, shifting houses, holding discussions, handing and taking over anything, starting business, organizing and celebrating events, entering new houses.
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