Samples untouched: No analysts to help our police

Police investigations delayed, as over 5,000 viscera samples from bodies lie un-tested at forensic labs across the state, due to lack of staff

Samples untouched: No analysts to help our police

Police investigations delayed, as over 5,000 viscera samples from bodies lie un-tested at forensic labs across the state, due to lack of staff

Ever wondered why police investigations into deaths seem to take an inordinate amount of time? The 2,000-odd viscera samples gathering dust at the state's forensic laboratory at Kalina, Santacruz (East) and 3,000-odd viscera samples lying at the state's three other forensic laboratories at Nagpur, Pune and Aurangabad may offer a clue.

The dearth of chemical analysts at the laboratory, an officer tells us under condition of anonymity, is why these samples (viscera samples refer to the parts of the stomach, small intestine and pieces of liver spleen and kidney and blood retrieved from the deceased body for further forensic examination) are lying unexamined.

The Mumbai based Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) receives viscera samples from Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Daman and Diu regions. Chemical analysis reports of these viscera samples hold vital clues for the police for further investigations in the case.

Currently, the Toxicology department of the Mumbai FSL has only five assistant chemical analysts on roll.
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But considering the number of samples it receives and the current backlog, it requires at least ten to fifteen analysts to deal with the backlog.
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"We don't have enough analysts at the moment, but once the posts are filled, there should be no problem and the backlog should be cleared," said a senior FSL official, requesting anonymity.

Often, even after a post-mortem is conducted, the doctor cannot come up with any firm conclusions on the reason for death.

It is then that the doctors have to rely on forensic examinations, for which the viscera is sent for chemical analysis. Like viscera, various other types of exhibits, including clothes and weapons are sent for different types of forensic examinations, which aid the investigation.

"Reports that emerge after viscera samples are tested can clearly tell us whether the deceased had consumed poison or was under influence of alcohol or medicines before his/her death.
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This helps the doctor to give a firm conclusion on the reason of death, which in turn helps the cops to investigate," said a senior forensic doctor, adding that there have been times where they received the report after six months of sending the samples for testing. The reports can even throw light on cases where patients die due to excess anesthesia.

"If the backlog keeps on increasing like this it will hold up thousands of cases from going to trial or being disposed off.

There have been cases where the deceased has strangulation marks on the body, but viscera reports show that he was under the influence of medicines or alcohol when crime took place. The reports help to back circumstantial evidence also," said another senior forensic expert from a medical college.

When contacted, a senior official from the FSL said, "We are going to fill 71 new posts in various departments across all the four laboratories through the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC). The interview process is on."