The anti-terrorism squad (ATS), which is probing the 13/7 serial blasts, had painstakingly collected some vital evidence from a flat in Habib Apartment in Byculla (W), where two suspected Pakistani bombers had stayed before and after the explosions. But three months after they sent the toothbrushes, towels, computer discs, hair and some clothes for DNA tests to the Kalina forensic science laboratory (FSL), the samples are still lying untested.
“We sent all the samples to the forensic science laboratory in January but have not received the report. This report is important as it is admissible evidence in the court. We want to get it at the earliest to attach it with the charge sheet in the blast case,” said an ATS officer.
Police sources said that the two suspected Pakistani bombers, Waqqas and Tabrez, had stayed in the flat between Janaury and November, 2011. “They fled but left some clothes in the flat. The DNA profiling will indicate exactly how many people came and stayed in the room,” said a police officer. The flat was allegedly arranged by an Indian citizen, Naqi Ahmed.
The Kalina FSL had a staff of around 350 personnel till February this year when the contract of 150 employees expired. “We are waiting for new recruitment,” said DMK Malve, joint director of FSL.
Sources in the FSL said that work was delayed due to the manpower shortage. The Kalina and Nagpur FSLs receive around 800 to 1,000 cases to test DNA samples every year. “This year, we have received 338 cases to test DNA samples but only 200 could be completed due to shortage of manpower. The staff for DNA testing is also involved in other work and hence it’s delayed,” said a source.
Forensic experts require hair, blood, semen, tissues, bones, saliva, clothes, brush, or some thumb impression to conduct the test. DNA profiling, say forensic experts, is a foolproof technique to prove the involvement of a person in a case. When asked about the recruitment of more employees in the FSL, Amitov Rajan, additional chief secretary (home), said, “I don’t have the figures right now. I will tell you later.”
It is not just the delay in the 13/7 case samples, even those sent for testing in the Nehru Nagar rape and murder of three girls in 2010 are yet to be completed. The Nehru Nagar cops had taken blood samples of 654 people for DNA test. So far, only 435 samples have been tested. In the same case, the crime branch took blood samples of around 750 people, of which 700 tests were done. Last December, the Cuffe Parade police took blood samples of around 700 people. But the lab has completed DNA test for only 300 people so far. This has hampered probe in these all cases.
Mateen Hafeez, Times of India