Dharmasthala mass burial case: FSL takes over 3 months to submit report if DNA testing is involved, say experts

Mangaluru: It takes two to three months for Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) to submit report depending on the complexity of case or even longer if DNA testing is involved. This duration reflects on the workload and technical challenges, revealed experts privy to information surrounding the skeletal remains unearthed in the forest in Dharmasthala.

"However given the urgency in this Dharmasthala mass burials case, the report can be readied within a few weeks, the expert emphasised. 

FSL expert told DH that as for the time taken, it depends on many factors. Delays are common particularly when labs are burdened with too many cases.

When police recover bones or any other human remains during an investigation, they send them to FSL for scientific examination. FSL plays a crucial role in helping police find out details like the identity of deceased, how the person died and whether any foul play was involved.

"Once the remains reaches FSL, the first step is to properly register and document the samples. A team of experts makes sure the materials are safely stored and that there is a proper chain of custody to prevent tampering. The samples usually come with a police request letter and other necessary paperwork," Expert explained.

Next, the forensic team carries out a physical examination of the remains. They check whether the bones are human or animal, how many there are, and whether they belong to a male or female. Experts can also estimate the age, height of person and see if there are any visible injuries, burns, or signs of cutting or trauma on the bones.

FSL experts conduct many types of tests based on the condition of remains and the nature of the case. Tests like DNA testing, Toxicology tests, Osteological examination, Ballistics tests, Histopathology tests  Entomology tests, Fingerprint or Dental analysis are done to identify the individual.

FSL also attempts to extract DNA from the bones or tissue to help police in identifying the person. This is usually done by taking a piece of bone (commonly the thigh bone or a tooth), cleaning it, and using advanced techniques to pull out DNA. This DNA is then compared with samples taken from family members, like their blood or cheek swabs, to confirm identity.

The expert said once all the tests are done, FSL submits a detailed report to SIT. This report explains the findings, methods used, and expert opinion.