Guwahati (Assam), May 25 : Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah laid the foundation stone of Guwahati campus of National Forensic Science University (NFSU) in Assam. Along with this, Shah also launched the web portal ‘Assam Police Seva Setu’ to make the services of the Assam Police more accessible and transparent for the people.
A book written by Dr. J.M Vyas on the use of forensic science in judiciary was also released. Several dignitaries including the Chief Minister of Assam Shri Himanta Biswa Sarma were present on the occasion.
In his address, Amit Shah said that today is a very important day for the criminal justice system of Assam as well as the entire North-East as the world’s 11th campus and the country’s 10th campus has been established in Guwahati. He said that the State Government has given 50 acres of land for this Forensic Science University and Government under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, will provide about Rs 500 crore on this NFSU for graduation and post graduation of 3,500 students.
He said that with the Bhumi pujan ceremony of National Forensic Science University (NFSU) today and after the commencement of its temporary campus, the students of the entire North East will not have to go to metropolitan cities like Delhi, Gujarat, Mumbai to get education in the field of forensic science. Shah said that the only specialized forensic science university of the world is located in India.
Shah said that under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, the Government of India is going to make radical changes in IPC, CRPC and Evidence Act. Its basic objective is to change these three laws prepared during the British era according to the spirit of our Constitution and to increase the conviction ratio in our country.
The government is going to make the visit of forensic experts mandatory in all crimes punishable for more than 6 years which is also going to create job opportunities for forensic science students across the country. He added that there is huge demand of experts in this emerging field of forensic science across the globe. The National Forensic Science University, started from Gujarat, is the only NFSU in the world to prepare exclusive courses in the field of forensic science and convert all dimensions of forensic science into courses.
The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Minister said that the NFSU, Guwahati will not only benefit Assam and North-East India but many countries along the eastern border like Myanmar Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Indonesia. He said that by signing Memorandum of Understanding with the many countries, National Forensic Science University is not only providing online and offline training to the officials for the use of forensics in police and judicial process but to the private industries as well. National Forensic Science University has trained police officers and forensic scientists from more than 70 countries and has signed more than 170 agreements with national and international organizations around the world.
Shah said that Guwahati Campus of NFSU is a perfect university in true sense. In this, along with courses like cyber security, digital, forensic, artificial intelligence, DNA forensics, food forensics, environmental forensics and agricultural forensics, arrangements will be made for double graduation. He said that from this academic year itself five faculties are going to start 5 academic courses and further will be expanded to 40 different courses and this unit will be converted into a complete unit.
Amit Shah said that the process of total policing is divided into three segments – maintaining law and order, investigating the crime and ensuring that the guilty are punished through judicial investigation. He said that currently, forensic science has gained crucial importance in all the three segments. By employing various scientific disciplines of forensic science like psychological profile, fingerprints etc. the police will be able to investigate crime without resorting to third degree methods. Even in case of a witness turning hostile, the court can sentence the guilty based on the charge sheet prepared by the police with the help of a forensic expert. The Government of India wants to set up a forensic mobile investigation facility in every district of the country.
Union Home Minister said that the conviction rate has increased from 5% to 14% in Assam. The conviction ratio has also increased from 5% to 45-40%. However, the state should aim to take the conviction rate above 85 per cent, and it cannot happen without the aid of forensic science. Shah added that due to the proactive role of Chief Minister of Assam, Shri Himanta Biswa Sarma, the 11th campus of National Forensic Science University is being inaugurated in Assam, today, for which he is thankful to him.
Shah said that the conviction rate in the country is 50%, while it is 62% in Canada, 93% in Israel, and 90% in both England and USA. With the help of Forensic Science University, the country has to move towards increasing the conviction rate. By punishing the habitual criminals with the help of NFSU, a strict example can be set in the society to control the trends of crime in the country. He said that our goal in relation to criminal justice is clear that we have to take our conviction rate ahead of the rate of developed countries, and for this purpose, the Government of India under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi is working towards creating a network of National Forensic Science University across the country.
Union Home Minister said that a four-pronged strategy has been chalked out to increase the conviction rate in Assam. It includes, strengthening the infrastructure of forensics, upgrading and modernizing the state level forensic labs, building regional forensic labs, ensuring that the mobile forensic laboratories are operational at the district level to collect evidence from the crime scene, and grooming of manpower as the forensic experts. While strengthening the infrastructure of forensics is the task of the state government and the central government, the training and ensuring the availability of the manpower of forensic experts, improving research and development and bringing the world’s most modern technology to the country are the tasks of the National Forensic Science University. Shri Shah said that NFSU is continuously studying the changes taking place in the field of forensic science across the globe and is working to take the country’s forensic science at par with the world while also making arrangements for R&D and inspiring the children to move forward in this field. He said that NFSU has established Asia’s only Ballistic Research Centre Testing Range, Centre of Excellence in DNA Forensic Science and International Humanitarian Forensic Centre. Drone Forensic Centre and Centre of Excellence in Psychological Forensics have also been established by NFSU.
He congratulated the Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma for reviving the police in the state. He said that a new era of peace and harmony has started in Assam under the leadership of PM Modi. Government of India has developed infrastructure in the entire Northeast and also connected it with mainland India. Along with this, efforts were made to bring everyone into the mainstream by conducting peace talks with the insurgent groups. Due to which about 8000 youth of three major insurgent groups-Karbi, Bodo and Dimasa have surrendered and come to the mainstream. In the wake of recent clashes in Manipur, Shah has appealed to the people of Manipur to maintain peace and have faith in law and order. He said that it is the policy of the government led by Prime Minister Modi that justice should be done and strict action should be taken against those who spread violence. Shah said that since last 6 years there has been peace in Manipur and there has not been a single blockade. We will solve this problem also through dialogue and peace.
Union Home Minister paid tribute to the great freedom fighter Rash Behari Bose on his birth anniversary for his immense contribution in the freedom struggle for the country. He said that freedom fighter Ras Bihari Bose helped provide stimulus to the freedom struggle and was a source of inspiration for youths of that time. He said that NFSU has a 100% placement ratio and graduating from the institute means getting a job immediately. Among all the courses available in the field of science, the maximum job opportunities are in the field of forensic science.
Shah urged the students to come to the National Forensic Science University to be established in Assam for further education and to shape your future and also to contribute in further strengthening the law and order situation of the country.
