Haryana cops to start DNA testing

CHANDIGARH: The Haryana police will soon set up a DNA testing facility in the state, sources said.
The approval from the Centre has already been sought and final modalities are being worked out in this regard. Apart from this, a state-of-the-art fingerprinting machine would be procured to ensure that the cases in which fingerprint is crucial are not delayed.The budget for both these facilities has been approved.
JS Mainwal, director forensic science, Madhuban, said initially we will start at a small level. But the basic testing such as blood identification, serum analysis, et al would be started. He said since it is a related with what we are already doing so it will be easy to start DNA lab in Madhuban itself.
They have sought appointment of experts from various fields who would be trained in Delhi and Hyderabad.
Already FSL, Madhuban, has carried out a research project called human genome profile of seven endogamous groups of Haryana which was sanctioned by the department of biotechnology, government of India.
FSL, Madhuban, also has a baseline data on significant DNA markers among different population groups of Haryana for use in forensic cases, particularly criminal cases.
Experts TOI spoke with said after DNA testing facility, the standardisation of DNA typing techniques according to the local conditions and facilities for implementing them in routine forensic analysis of blood and other body fluids would also be initiated.