New campus of NFSU coming up near Jammu shortly
Gopal Sharma
Ahmedabad, Feb 25: In a major step towards strengthening scientific investigation and improving the criminal justice system, the National Forensic Science University (NFSU), Ahmedabad, has provided 23 well-equipped mobile forensic vans to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and is also planning to set up a campus near Jammu shortly.
Speaking to journalists from Jammu and Kashmir during a media interaction in Gujarat, the Vice Chancellor, Dr J M Vyas, said the mobile units are equipped with advanced forensic instruments and modern gadgets to facilitate on-the-spot collection and preservation of evidence. He said the initiative aims to reduce delays in investigations and enhance the quality of evidence presented before courts.
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He added that such mobile forensic laboratories are being introduced across the country to promote scientific policing and to replace outdated investigative practices that often lead to prolonged trials.
Campus Director Prof S O Junare said that forensic science is applied science and plays a crucial role in crime detection and terrorism-related investigations. He explained that strict protocols are followed during investigations, including video recording of procedures and proper preservation of evidence to maintain its admissibility in courts of law.
He said NFSU experts are handling several sensitive cases across the country, including terror attacks, cybercrime, mobile data extraction and other hi-tech investigations. A significant number of cybercrime, heinous and terrorism-related cases from Jammu and Kashmir are also being examined with scientific support from the University, he added.
Prof Junare further disclosed that establishing a campus of the University in Jammu and Kashmir is under active consideration.
Meanwhile, another senior official of NFSU revealed that a campus of the National Forensic Science University is likely to come up in Jammu, most probably near AIIMS in Samba district. A proposal in this regard has already been discussed with the Ministry of Home Affairs and a detailed report has been submitted. The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has reportedly identified land near AIIMS in Samba for the proposed campus.
The official said the Ministry of Home Affairs will provide funds for the project and work is expected to commence within the next two years. Once operational, the campus is expected to produce a large number of forensic science experts for the country.
Dr Akshat Mehta, Dean, NFSU, said there is an estimated shortage of nearly 32,000 forensic science experts in India. He informed that around 4,500 students are currently studying at the Ahmedabad campus, which is the largest forensic science university of its kind in the world. The University is producing nearly 2,500 trained experts every year to meet the growing demand in investigation and criminal justice sectors.
Dr Mehta also highlighted that the University runs specialised programmes, including a six-month course for training “cyber commandos,” and officers from international agencies, including Interpol, have also undergone training at the institution.
He said cases related to cryptocurrency frauds, social media crimes, deepfake technology, financial scams, smart devices and data breaches are among the important areas where the University provides technical expertise as and when required.
Officials maintained that the deployment of mobile forensic vans and the proposed Jammu campus will significantly strengthen forensic infrastructure and scientific investigation capacity in Jammu and Kashmir.
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