MARGAO: In the absence of a DNA testing facility at the state’s lone forensic science laboratory at Verna, the state government has incurred a cost of over Rs 25 lakh towards transport and testing charges for over 150 samples sent to laboratories outside the state since April 2012.
This was revealed in a written reply by chief minister Pramod Sawant to an unstarred question by Curtorim MLA Alexio Reginaldo Lourenco.
The forensic science laboratory at Verna comprises biology/ serology, chemistry, toxicology, narcotics, ballistics, computer forensic and fingerprint divisions. However, certain tests, including DNA fingerprinting, aren’t conducted at this laboratory, and therefore, samples are required to be sent to the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD) and Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), both located at Hyderabad.
Tests conducted at this laboratory include detection and confirmation of blood, semen, saliva and stains, identification of species of stains, grouping of biological stains, detection of fibre and hair, diatom examination, detection of poison, testing of alcohol, testing of narcotic drugs (charas and ganja only), testing of petroleum products and its residue, analysis of acids and alkalis, retrieval and analysis of data from mobile phones, tracing and comparison of fingerprints and chance prints, as per the reply.
Sources said that the state government has decided to set up a DNA fingerprinting division at the forensic science laboratory at Verna, and that procurement of equipment is under way.
