Jalpaiguri forensic lab to launch new tests

The new building of the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory in Jalpaiguri. Picture by Biplab Basak

TT, Jalpaiguri: The Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL) here will introduce two new facilities - toxicology and serology tests - to help police and other agencies with prompt reports which can help them in investigation and detection of crimes.

Officials working at the laboratory said they were waiting for funds from the state which would be used to install different modern equipments to be used for conducting these tests.

"We would have to spend Rs 1.5 crore for installation of equipments at the toxicology section and another Rs 15 lakh for instruments needed for serology tests. The state home department is working on the proposal and we hope to start the services soon," said Natun Ghatak, the senior scientific officer posted at the laboratory

While tests of blood samples for detection of poisons cases will be done in toxicology section, in serology, blood samples would be tested for antibodies, infections and disease conditions, said a source. As of now, these tests are done at the CFSL, located in Calcutta.

As of now, biological tests of samples of blood and semen, sent from north Bengal districts, are conducted at the lab.

"These are mostly sent after crimes like murder and rape. But for many other tests, the samples are sent to Calcutta. On many occasions, we have found that police want the reports early," said Ghatak.