Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has inaugurated the newly constructed, state-of-the-art building of the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL) in Gorakhpur, built at a cost of ₹72.78 crore. The CM said this modern forensic lab will prove to be a game-changer for advanced policing. With its support, criminals can be identified quickly and brought to justice through courts without delay. This laboratory is also being considered a major gift for the people of eastern Uttar Pradesh. After becoming functional, it will provide all types of forensic services, including DNA testing.
Forensic labs increased from 4 to 12
The Chief Minister said that the government has taken concrete steps to strengthen scientific evidence collection in the state. As a result, in the last eight years, the number of forensic labs in UP has grown from 4 to 12. The government’s target is to set up an advanced forensic facility in every division. In this sequence, six more labs have also been approved and are under construction.
CM Yogi explained that the new laws—Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023—mandate forensic evidence collection for crimes carrying punishments of more than seven years. The idea behind this is to ensure speedy justice for every citizen. With these measures, strong evidence can now be prepared against an accused within hours of a crime. For this purpose, two mobile forensic vans have been made available in every district.
Facilities available at the Gorakhpur Lab
This upgraded “A-category” lab in Gorakhpur will enable fast, accurate, and evidence-based investigation. The following tests can be conducted here:
- Biological/DNA analysis: Full DNA testing facilities have been set up.
- Other examinations: Voice comparison, lie detection related to crime inquiries, and applications of forensic engineering.
The CM said that criminals will no longer be able to escape the law. There is now a fear among offenders that any crime will have consequences. He also highlighted the government’s initiatives to modernise the police force and strengthen the rule of law. Over the last eight years, 2,19,000 personnel have been recruited into the Uttar Pradesh Police. Training capacity has been increased from 6,000 to 60,244 personnel.
Since 2020, the police commissionerate system has been implemented in seven districts of UP. Seventeen municipal corporations, along with Noida and Greater Noida, have been linked with the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) and developed as “safe cities.” More than 13 lakh CCTV cameras have been installed to enhance security. Disbanded PAC companies have been reorganised, and women PAC battalions have been formed, named after Veerangana Jhalkari Bai Kori (Gorakhpur), Veerangana Uda Devi Pasi (Lucknow), and Veerangana Avantibai Lodhi (Badaun). The CM also said that the UP State Institute of Forensic Sciences has been set up in Lucknow to generate more employment opportunities for youth in the field of forensic technology.
