TIRUCHI, Tamil Nadu: The Tiruchi Rural Police have received a dedicated Mobile Forensic Van (MFV) to strengthen scientific evidence collection and preliminary examination at crime scenes.
The facility is designed to help investigators identify, collect, preserve and document physical evidence directly at crime scenes before samples are sent to a Regional Forensic Laboratory for detailed examination.
Equipped for Crime Scene Investigation
The air-conditioned mobile forensic unit is stationed at the Tiruchi District Police Office and is designed as a self-contained forensic facility that can be deployed to crime scenes across the Tiruchi Rural Police jurisdiction.
The van is equipped with several forensic investigation kits, including a general investigation kit, crime scene protection kit, fingerprint collection kit, blood and semen detection kit, narcotics detection kit, explosive detection kit and arson investigation kit with a gas detector.
It also contains equipment for evidence collection and packaging, allowing investigators to properly secure and preserve materials recovered from crime scenes.
Other equipment available inside the unit includes a stereo microscope, scanner-cum-printer, weighing balance, DSLR camera, mini refrigerator and LED display.
These facilities can support preliminary examination and documentation of biological, chemical and physical evidence at the scene. Samples requiring detailed analysis can subsequently be forwarded to the Regional Forensic Laboratory.
Strengthening Scientific Investigation
The Mobile Forensic Van was conceptualised and designed by the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) as part of efforts to strengthen forensic capabilities available to investigating agencies.
The unit has already been deployed in an investigation involving the discovery of a partially decomposed woman’s body beneath a bridge within the Pulivalam police station limits. The case was subsequently investigated as a murder, with five people arrested in connection with the investigation.
The availability of a mobile forensic facility can help investigators respond to crime scenes with specialised equipment and reduce the possibility of evidence being overlooked, contaminated or improperly packaged.
The initiative reflects the increasing integration of forensic science into crime scene investigation, with greater emphasis on scientific documentation, evidence preservation and laboratory-based analysis to support criminal investigations and judicial proceedings.