Even the most cunning offender can be traced by a single mark left at the crime scene. Fingerprints found on doors, windows, almirahs, weapons or other objects form a vital link in unravelling criminal cases. Police investigations are no longer confined to witness statements and questioning alone. Fingerprint, DNA and digital technologies have emerged as powerful tools for identifying offenders. The fingerprint branch of the Bhopal Police Commissionerate is set to play a significant role in cases of murder, robbery, theft, burglary and the identification of unidentified dead bodies. Information about an unidentified body will now be available in just 35 seconds.

 

Collection begins at the scene: The work of the fingerprint branch starts with lifting impressions from the scene of crime. Teams examine doors, windows, cupboards, glass surfaces, weapons, vehicles and other articles. Special powder and chemicals are used to develop marks that remain invisible to the naked eye. Photographs of these impressions are then taken to create digital records, which are matched against existing fingerprint databases. Prints help when witnesses absent: In several cases of theft, robbery and other offences, the accused flees the scene and no eyewitness is available. Fingerprints recovered from the spot help investigators move forward. When the marks match an earlier criminal record, police are able to identify and reach the suspect. Unidentified bodies identified through records: Fingerprint technology is also employed to establish the identity of unknown dead bodies.

 

When a person dies in an accident, homicide or other circumstances and remains unidentified, the fingerprints are compared with available records. This assists the police in determining the identity of the deceased and contacting the family. Matching of impressions from older cases with evidence from new incidents further advances investigations. Mobile app links to national system: To accelerate scientific investigation, the central Government has launched the Abhigyan mobile application. Linked to the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System, the app enables police officers to capture fingerprints of a suspect at the spot with a certified scanner and match them against the national database. The system returns identity and criminal record details in just 35 seconds. Roll-out process already under way: Police Commissioner Sanjay Kumar said that the process of integrating the system into investigation work is continuing. The application will bring greater speed from the receipt of a crime report to the completion of inquiries.