01 Jan 2026:The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has approved a proposal submitted by AIIMS Jammu for setting up a state-of-the-art forensic institute in Jammu and Kashmir. The institute will be developed in Samba district and is aimed at strengthening investigations and improving conviction rates.AIIMS Jammu Executive Director and CEO, Prof Shakti Kumar Gupta, said the proposal has been cleared by the MHA and that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is also associated with the project.
He said the institute will serve as a one-stop facility for investigation agencies, with all forensic services available under one roof.Officials said the proposed institute will help in proper collection, examination and scientific analysis of evidence, besides supporting better investigation and medical diagnosis in the health sector. In the future, AIIMS will work closely with the institute to assist in early investigation and diagnosis.
Jammu and Kashmir currently has two forensic science laboratories located in Jammu and Srinagar, with the headquarters in Jammu. However, officials said the region’s sensitive geographical location near the International Border and multiple state boundaries makes it vulnerable to terrorism, narco-terrorism and gun-related crimes.Professor and Head of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at AIIMS, Dr Dinesh Rao, said the new institute is essential to meet these challenges.
He said it will act as a single-point facility for investigation agencies, helping them secure, examine and analyse evidence using advanced scientific laboratories under one roof.
