‘Bring forensic course to crack sex crime’

LUCKNOW: At the conclusion of each session conducted at the 47th Police Science Congress being held in Lucknow, two resolutions will be drafted and adopted after discussion. These will then be read out in front of Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday for implementation at policy-making level, said Renuka Mishra, ADG, recruitment & promotion board, UP Police.
On Thursday, the first resolution in the session on women’s safety was about investigation of sexual crimes against women.
The resolution says that medical examination of a victim, as required in criminal investigation of sexual crimes, should be taught in detail as part of the curriculum in medical schools. While forensic medicine exists, the depth of the subject is such that there should be an entire course or specialisation in it.
The idea came from Amol Deshmukh, a Mumbai-based forensic and investigation expert, who is also an adviser in the Union ministry of home affairs.
“In cases of sexual assault, the medical report often remains inconclusive. The life of a person depends on that medical report. The training for medical examination cannot be limited to one or two questions or a few lectures. If medical examination is not done correctly, even compensation that is due to the victim is denied because rape is not confirmed by medical examination even if it has taken place. Forensic gynaecology subject should be introduced as a branch of study,” said Deshmukh.
He also said that courses specific to sexual offences against children need to pay more attention in medical education. Additionally, refresher courses in medico-legal examination should be held for doctors because the nature of sexual crimes has changed over the years.
The resolution proposes that doctors should provided a detailed protocol for medical examination in criminal cases. The second resolution was regarding strict implementation of Supreme Court regulations on sale and purchase of acid to prevent acid attacks, most of the victims of which are women. The regulations include asking the acid buyer for what purpose is the product being purchased and also the the seller recording details of the person in the form of an ID, among others.
While both forensic medicine training for doctors and regulations on sale of acid exist on paper, their actual implementation is very weak, said experts in the panel.