DNA fingerprinting may be used to identify missing fishermen

MANGALORE: The services of the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD), Hyderabad, may be sought again to identify the bodies of missing fishermen, like the one done in the case of badly charred air crash victims of IX 812 of May last year.
The Indian Coast Guard on Saturday night recovered one of the bodies at high seas. On Sunday, it was identified as that of Abdul Rahiman based on the religious ritual (circumcision) performed on his body.Rahiman's brother-in-law Ibrahim Khaleel said that the family has claimed the body and it will be buried on Sunday itself.
Venkatesh Pampana Gowda Hosahalli, the uncle of missing fisherman Narayana Gowda (22) of Koppal, who had rushed to the police station on Saturday, told TOI that the body was like a piece of meat. ''There were no clothes and the skin was off. I doubt it is one of the six fishermen as the body cannot decompose so much or lose clothes in such a short time," he said.
Deputy commissioner N S Channappa Gowda said that if the bodies were unrecognizable, certainly DNA profiling can be looked at, like done with air crash victims. Police commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh said they will wait till all kin of missing persons come and identify bodies as and when they are found. "If it cannot be done, DNA profiling is the only way out," he added.
The missing fisherman's brother, Mahantesh Gowda, has left for his hometown. "There was no use for him (Mahantesh) to be here. He can console the family members who are grieving than being here waiting endlessly. We have told all connected to Narayana the truth that he is still missing. We got fed up of telling lies," police said.
"We will wait for some more time so that we can get the body and conduct rites according our customs. If not we will pray to the sea god to keep him there itself," he added.
Chances of identifying bodies after a certain amount time after will be difficult as the fishermen do not wear anything on their bodies like ring, watch or anything that could impede their work with the nets.