Gandhinagar, July 2: In the realm of criminal investigations, timely evidence collection is crucial. It is equally important to ensure that this evidence remains uncontaminated. To address this need, Gujarat has deployed 47 Mobile Forensic Vans (MFVs) to assist police investigations. These vans are designed to secure evidence at crime scenes promptly, conduct initial examinations, and provide preliminary forensic opinions to facilitate swift police inquiries.
The establishment of the Gujarat Forensic Sciences University (GFSU) was a visionary initiative by former Chief Minister and current Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This institution, now recognized as a central university, aims to enhance the role of forensic science in law enforcement and public safety under his guidance.
Under Modi’s leadership, timely updates to criminal laws have been implemented. These new laws emphasize the scientific investigation of crimes to increase conviction rates. As a result, forensic investigations have become mandatory for serious offenses carrying sentences of over seven years, further elevating the importance of forensic science. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel is actively advancing Modi’s vision in this domain.
According to the guidelines from the Ministry of Home Affairs, 28 out of the 47 MFVs were upgraded in 2024. Over the past two years, these vans have responded to 37,269 crime scenes. They have provided critical assistance in cases involving murder, child sexual offenses (POCSO), robbery, theft, arson, and narcotics.
The statistics from various crime scene visits are as follows: murder (1,529), rape/POCSO/child abuse (3,746), attempted murder (1,583), robbery (728), burglary/theft (2,758), shooting (154), explosions (43), arson (92,893), narcotics (1,968), and fatal cases (9,022). Additionally, 10,457 visits involved forensic investigations related to accidental deaths, custodial deaths, unnatural deaths, suspicious incidents, and other law enforcement matters.
These mobile forensic vans are equipped with 12 specialized scientific kits, including DNA and sexual assault evidence kits, narcotics screening kits, explosive screening kits, gunshot residue kits, arson investigation kits, and footprint and tire print casting kits.
The vans also feature stereo microscopes, DSLR cameras, GPS-enabled body-worn camera systems, laptops, printers, mini refrigerators, LED screens, high-intensity forensic light sources, generator sets, and other essential tools. These instruments enable the initial examination of various evidence types, such as blood stains, biological samples, fingerprints, footprints, tire marks, gunshot residues, narcotics, explosive remnants, charred materials, hair, fibers, soil samples, and glass fragments directly at the crime scene.
The primary objective of the mobile forensic vans is to provide immediate scientific assistance at crime scenes, ensure proper evidence preservation, minimize contamination risks, and facilitate crime scene reconstruction. Particularly in cases of rape and POCSO, timely identification and collection of biological evidence are critical. In such instances, the role of these vans becomes vital. The use of body cameras, DSLR photography, and CCTV-based documentation has significantly improved the scientific observation of crime scenes.
Today, criminal investigations increasingly rely on scientific evidence. In Gujarat, mobile forensic vans are revolutionizing the approach to crime investigations. By bringing forensic science directly to the scene, they secure crucial evidence and aid in building strong cases from first response to final verdict.
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