Facilities of Forensic Science

A state of the art ISO 9001:2015 certified research center in the field of forensic ballistics has been established in this institute. This is among the first of its kind in the country. This is the authorized center for the testing and reporting of ballistic resistant materials. The ballistic range renders timely services for the defense establishments and various agencies of personal security in the country for the testing of the bodyprotection materials. In addition to this, researchers of private and public sector organizations are also getting the services through this facility. State of the art technology has been in place which is in accordance with the international standards as specified by the NIJ. In general, the mandatory tests for any armored materials and vehicles are being carried out in this center. There is also a provision of acoustic mechanism for the safety of the people who have been involved in the process of testing. There is an evacuation mechanism available for the elimination of the toxic emissions. Systematic mechanism for data collection is also in place with the provision of ultra- modern technology for the acquisition of the data related to the vital parameters involved in the testing procedures. To maintain transparency and integrity of the various testing procedures, there is a provision of witnessing the entire process alive through an exclusive gallery. There is also well an integrated technology available for the armoured vehicle testing for the purpose of assessing the ability of ballistic resistance. The services provided through this facility are also at par with the international standards and proved to be efficient and discreet. Time and again this has been proved through the delighted mention of various agencies those are getting the services in this set up. Complacency has never been felt as far as the services and the research work is concerned. In contrast there is a always a scope for the path of innovations.

The laboratory has been set up with an objective to impart hands on training to students and researchers on the analytical examination of physical evidences which are most commonly encountered in any crime scene such as glass, paint, soil, fingerprints, foot prints, questioned documents, tyremarks, tool marks, counterfeit security documents, metallic substances, structural material, firearms and ammunition, audio and video samples. The laboratory is comprised of highly sophisticated equipments including stereomicroscopes, comparison microscope, IR based microscope, 3D viewer miscroscopes, Video Spectral Comparator (VSC), Digital refractometer, Abbe’s Refractometer, Currency Verifier, Atomic Force Microscope, ED-XRF, Layered Voice analyzer, Computerized speech lab system, Eye-detect system and particle size analyzer- Zeta Sizer . In addition to this, there are facilities for the assessment of basic physical parameters of trace +evidences such as density, viscosity, refractive index and so on.

Most of the instruments are useful for the assessment of the physical characterization of the materials those are usually done in any physical evidence without the involvement of the destruction Various ranges of the microscopes are available for the purpose of establishing the morphological and morphometrictraits.

Layered Voice analyzer and the Eye detect are the instruments useful for the detection of deception based on voice spectrum and the finer movement of the eyes.

Zeta sizer is useful for the characterization of the materials in the nano scales. It is also useful to establish the sizes and the zeta potential. The atomic force microscope is one of most recent addition to this laboratory. This is one of the most sophisticated instruments useful for the purpose of evaluating the surface roughness, characterization of the materials with the nano scale scratch, etching, polishing etc.

This laboratory aim to enhance, analyze and verify multimedia evidences like audio, video and image file to be presented as crucial evidence in the court of law. The laboratory includes highly sophisticated tools for audio, video & photo enhancement and authentication tools including Computerized speech lab, Amped Five and Amped Authenticate. These forensic instruments are specifically used for investigative, forensic, military and security applications. The primary goal of these equipments is to provide a complete solution to process and restore, clarify, and analyze audio, images and video evidences in a simple, fast, and precise way.

The research thrust areas of the lab are DNA profiling, forensic proteomics, microbial forensic and wildlife forensic. Currently numbers of research projects are sponsored by Government funding agencies like GUJCOST and GSBTM.
  Major Instrumental Facility:

• DNASequencer
• Spectrofluorometer
• Ultracentrifuge
• Real-timePCR
• Gel Documentationsystem
• Microplate Reader
• ThermalCycler
• 2D-Gel andSDS-PAGE
• Nano-spectrophotometer
• UV-VisSpectrophotometer
• Ultrapure Water PurificationSystem

This is the first of its kind institution established across the globe and one stop centre dedicated for the humanitarian services to the victims of mass disasters of any kind with a special expertise of forensic sciences. (An initiative for humanitarian forensic action for the dejected & an altruistic approach of empathy, compassion and solace)

This is a novel initiative from the highly specialized academic institution of forensic, investigative and security sciences, the GFSU in collaboration with the internationally acclaimed organization for the humanitarian services, the ICRC

Salient Features

This centre has been imparting training to the officers of various agencies involved in the disaster management across country. It has been roping in experts from across the globe with the special emphasis on scientific management of the disaster victims. This centre is contemplating to provide academic programs to hone up the skills of the specific target groups involved in the concerned area. Consultancy service is the cornerstone of this institution. Composite research work is being undertaken to enhance the modalities related to management of the victims.

The illegal drug trafficking and drug trade is an intercontinental bootleg market dedicated to the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of narcotic and psychotropic drugs that are subject to drug prohibition laws. Drug and drug concomitant problems are one of the core areas of research throughout the world. The menace has extended its shadow beyond geographical boundaries. The drug trafficking scenario in India is largely attributed to various external and internal determinant. It engenders the diverse economic and financial consequences. Gujarat Forensic Sciences University has been conferred with Centre of excellence for NDPS by Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. It is a government organization established with a mission to diminish the drug of abuse cases and the total convictions in narcotic cases and to combat against the drug trafficking. It is mandate to assist several central and state agencies to react to the instability and insecurity caused by crimes like the smuggling of illicit drugs. Through research and development CoE will assist the other government agencies to bridge the gap between different forensic science laboratories by developing the database of narcotic and psychotropic substances under one roof. The latest technologies would be developed to identify designer drugs, precursor chemicals and other impurities in the illicit drugs seized by the law enforcement agencies. Through the educational campaign like seminar, conferences, workshop, CoE will educate various law agencies, scientific fraternities and other stake holders to identify current upcoming trends in drug trafficking, drug abuse cases and new challenges in their analysis leading to rapid court convictions of NDPS.

 

Objectives of the Laboratory

1. To conduct research in different zones of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances to facilitate the law enforcement agencies in quick conviction of the narcotic cases.
2. To acquaint and create expertise in scientific fraternity in the advanced areas of instrumental analysis of NDPS and designer drugs.
3. To create state of art centralised facilities in inter-disciplinary areas of NDPS drugs analysis.
4. To create data base of NDPS drugs to establish network between Forensic Science Laboratories and other laboratories engaged in Narcotic Drugs analysis.
5. To create a facility for quality management system and proficiency testing programs related to NDPS drugs.

The Forensic Chemistry and Toxicology Laboratory is well equipped with most of the instruments used for routine and sophisticated analysis of forensic evidences like drugs, poisons, explosives, petroleum products, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages etc. The laboratory is well functional with instruments like UV-VIS Spectrophotometer, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR), Gas Chromatography (GC), Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC- MS), Ultra performance Liquid Chromatography - Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MSMS), HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography), Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and various other small instruments for chemical and toxicological analysis. The instruments in the laboratory are used for day to day practical, dissertation, hands on training and research work for various courses in the Institute of Forensic Science.

Wet laboratory has been designed for preliminary tests of the various kinds of forensic evidences related to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, explosives, alcoholic beverages, Fire and Arson, petroleum products which includes sample preparation, distillation, extraction, centrifugation and many other methods to be done before instrumental analysis. The sample prepared in this laboratory is then subjected to instrumental analysis like GC, HPLC, ICP-MS and IC.

A highly sophisticated and state of art laboratory meant for elemental analysis from various matrices. Ample of applications in Forensic Chemistry like explosives and Gunshot residue analysis, Food Forensics and Forensic Toxicology are being explored and performed. Laboratory basically has Elemental Analyzer (CHNSO-Flash Smart), Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry and the Ion Chromatograph (IC) for analysis of various elements from food, water, biological fluids and forensic samples.

The laboratory is engaged in execution of academics related practical, training of ITEC and other law enforcement officers, Research and Consultancy to various organizations.

Electrochemical and chemistry research laboratory is an amalgamation of electrochemical techniques and other spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques with highly exclusive sample preparation techniques for the analysis of various drugs, explosives, herbal products, and other chemicals by electrochemical and other methods.

The laboratory houses instruments like Cyclic Voltammetry, Electrochemical Work Station, Automatic Solvent Extractor, Super Critical Fluid Extraction Technique, Probe Sonicator, Viscometer cum Densitometer, Homogenizer, Potentiometer Auto-titrator, FTNIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) etc. The laboratory is engaged in execution of academics related practical’s, training of ITEC and other law enforcement officers, Research and Consultancy to various organizations.

The state-of-the-art laboratory is a research space dedicated to the analysis of human and non-human dental remains for forensic identification. It is first of its kind in Gujarat equipped with latest instrumentations for forensic dental investigations. The laboratory is efficient in advanced research work and also serves as a potential referral center (One-Stop Centre) at state and national level for forensic and medico-legal caseworks. The laboratory is a focal point for training graduate students in the major methods and techniques used in forensics dental analysis. The laboratory also received “Emerging Forensics Department Award” at the Legal Desire Summit and Awards, 2020 for the leadership, expertise, contribution, devotion and commitment towards forensics for criminal investigation in India.
 

The research thrust areas of the laboratory are – Human Identification through dental structures, 2D & 3D Forensic Facial Reconstruction, Medico-Legal Documentation and Analysis, Forensic Pathology and Radiology, Forensic Dental Genetics (DNA), etc.