New Delhi: Government has sanctioned Rs300 crore for setting up mobile forensic science laboratories in rural areas and for the uplift of the existing forensic facilities across the country.

The money was given under the Eleventh Five Year Plan for directorate of forensic sciences to modernise Forensic Science Application and creation of Rural Forensic Science Laboratories (RFSLs) and District Mobile Forensic Units (DMFUs) for states and union territories.

“An outlay of Rs200 crore have been approved for modernisation of forensic application and Rs100 crore is for creation of RFSLs and DMFUs in the states and union territories,” a senior home ministry official said.

“Under the modernisation of forensic science application scheme, the government will establish new hi-tech central forensic science laboratories and create national DNA database facility,” the official said.

“There is a proposal to create six regional forensic science laboratories and 52 mobile forensic science laboratories in different states under the ‘Creation of Regional Forensic Science Laboratories and District Mobile Forensic Units´ scheme,” he said.

According to official data, there are nine laboratories at central government level and 107 laboratories at state government level catering to the various needs of the investigating agencies.