Tamil Nadu

Scientific approach in crime investigation Law & order

The science of deduction forms the fulcrum of any crime investigation. Unravelling the mystery behind serious offences involves cumbersome processes such as recording of witnesses, meticulous collection and compilation of evidences and threading the missing links.

After identifying the culprits, the onus of proving them guilty rests with the investigating agencies. But very few cases of crimes warrant such scientific approach.

One such case, which confronted the Salem Rural Police, is the recent double murder in the deep forests adjoining the Yercaud foothills.

A forest guard on duty found a highly decomposed body of Shanthi (43) of Belur in the reserve forests near Salem on October 28. On instructions from DIG N. Chenbaharaman, Rural SP N. Baskaran formed special team under the Yercaud Inspector K. Radhakrishnan to investigate the case.

The investigation led to many other startling disclosures. The team’s painstaking investigation led to husband of the deceased who identified her body. Police claimed that she used to indulge in some illegal activities.

Later, the case of mysterious death was transferred under Section 302 of Indian Penal Code. Radhakrishnan and his team approached the case scientifically and traced one Gunasekaran (21) with the help of the mobile phone of the deceased Shanthi.

Under interrogation he buckled and told the policemen that he and his associates murdered one Kumar of Ammapettai in Salem, a close associate of Shanthi, also on the same day. The deceased duo had been lured into the forests on promises of supplying sandalwood logs. Police found Kumar’s body in a remote hill amid forests. These two murders took place for gain.

Gunasekaran’s mobile phone helped the team of sleuths to trace and arrest four others involved in the double murders for gain. The stolen gold jewellery and cash also were recovered.

The entire team could unravel the sinister motive behind the gruesome murders hardly in a week. All those involved in the crime also have been arrested and remanded in custody.

The occurrence took place on October 24. The police came to the spot on October 28. The entire gang was arrested on November 5.

The Inspector says that though the case initially looked ‘a knotty one’ could be solved in record time as the investigation is centred on pieces of evidences collected under heavy rains in deep forests.

“To strengthen the case, we have decided to undertake the DNA test too,” he says. Senior police officials congratulated the team which included Sub Inspectors Krishnamurthy, Saravanan and Prakash for its smart investigation.

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