Kathmandu, December 20

Nepal Police has procured a high-tech mobile forensic van to help the forensic team of the law enforcement agency collect major evidences from crime spot and establish criminal offences in the court.

This is the first time Nepal Police is equipped with such van. Inspector General of Police Sarbendra Khanal handed over the key of the four-seater van to Senior Superintendent of Police Dhiraj Pratap Singh, in-charge at Metropolitan Police Crime Division, amid a function organised at the NP Headquarters, Naxal today.

Speaking at the programme, IGP Khanal said the security agency had attached high priority to make it resourceful and high-tech in the area of criminal investigation. He also directed police personnel to ensure optimum use of the van.

The van cost Rs 9.6 million, including the forensic kit items installed in it. Deputy Inspector General of Police Surya Prasad Upadhay informed that the fully air-conditioned van was procured from the budget of the fiscal 2017-18 to make criminal investigation more effective and scientific.

The van is equipped with general crime scene investigation kit; DNA sample, evidence packing and collection kit; blood detection kit; narcotic detection kid; semen detection kit, explosive detection kit; bullet hole detection kit; gunshot residue collection kit, crime scene illumination kit; forensic light sources/multi-tunable light; comprehensive fingerprint

developer kit; protective shoes of different sizes; head gear with torch, magnifiers and gas mask; and coat/dangri, among other things. Sketch and photographs of the crime scene, both in still and video modes, can also be taken.

SSP Singh said the van equipped with modern technologies would help police carry out spot test in a laboratory environment in the crime scene itself to protect evidences and make criminal investigation scientific.

Many countries have been using forensic mobile vans to enhance  the criminal investigation capacity of law enforcement officers.