On the Hot Trail

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-family:="" arial="" font-size:="">You are at the scene of crime: starting with circumstantial evidence you move on to fingerprinting, gene mapping, weapon used, to determining the psychological, sociological and legal implications of the case in hand; seems like the work of a police inspector or a detective.But now you too can do it, if you are a graduate in science or art.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="" font-size:="">The LNJN-National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science (LNJN- NICFS), one-of-its-kind institute in India set up under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India as well as on the recommendations of a committee appointed by the University Grants Commission, looks into the applied aspects of education, training and research in the fields of criminology and forensic science to commensurate with the growing needs of the country and the criminal justice system in particular.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="" font-size:="">The director of LNJN-NICFS, senior Indian Police Service officer, Sharda Prasad said: "Due to the measures taken up by the government to modernise the police force, at least 4,000-5,000 ''mobile forensic vans'' will be deputed at the ''tehsil'' level all across the country. These vans will have at least an ''investigator'' and a ''forensic scientist''. Hence, catering to this demand only will be a huge task." Prasad, himself a distinguished police officer was instrumental in pushing the case for modernisation of the police force.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="" font-size:="">"The institute, so far, has been conducting training for personnel belonging to the police forces, medical science, forest officers, judiciary, to name a few, but this is the first time the proposal was mooted to extend our specialised services for graduate students," Prasad remarked.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="" font-size:="">To start with, the institute is launching two programmes: MA or MSc in Criminology and MSc in Forensic Science. The minimum qualification for both the programmes is graduation. For the forensic science course, a graduate in science will do while for the criminology course, both science and arts'' graduates, subject to some conditions will be preferred. Both the programmes are of a two-year duration and will have an intake of 20 students each. Prasad said: "If the students'' response is good, we will consider increasing the intake, to 50 or even 100, from the next year."</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="" font-size:="">Besides, 25 per cent of seats are reserved for in-service or sponsored candidates. The age limit for general candidates is 35 years. Students will not be required to take any entrance test either. Prasad added, "Students'' selection will be merit-based. From next year, probably, we will have an entrance too." The institute has tied-up with the Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) to offer degrees to students.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="" font-size:="">Prasad pointed out, "Being an institution of national importance, we have adequate funds to build the infrastructure and faculty that is required for such programmes. Some other universities too like Sagar, Chennai, Patiala, Punjabi and Bundelkhand were offering such programmes, but did not have the kind of facilities and hands-on training structure, like they were at the LNJN-NICFS." Prasad has himself designed the course curriculum for both the courses. There were many facets of forensic science, which the students would find interesting. "Emerging areas such as in ''DNA'' and ''brainmapping'', where some sensors are attached to brain to revive some old and feeble memories are a part of this. Another fascinating area and an emerging field is ''computer forensics''. Through this, you can find out the mechanics of computer crimes, be it related to software or hardware," Prasad exclaimed. There are five basic points on which the institute''s educational foundation are laid. He elaborated, "These are teaching, training, research, consultancy and publishing. Moreover, research formed the basis of criminology and forensic sciences as these were ever growing fields."</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="" font-size:="">With regard to employment prospects, Prasad said that on completion of these courses, students could find employment in forensic science labs, NGOs - as consultants, in different ministries and government offices as counsellors. "And the students can set up their own detective agencies too," he added. The fees for the criminology programme is Rs 20,500 while for the forensic science programme, it''s Rs 25,500. Right now, the LNJN-NICFS is not providing any scholarships. "The fee, however is quite reasonable, considering that students will work on the latest equipment that no other institution in the country provides to its students and will be taught by highly-qualified faculty," Prasad said.</span></div> </div>