India ’s Dr. M. S. Rao, Chief Forensic
Scientist, Ministry of Home Affairs,
delivered a keynote address at 2006
Forensic Science Forum, 93rd Indian
Science Congress on “preventive forensics ”including electromagnetic mind control tools
Table of contents:
An alleged victim of mind control in India sends Mind Justice India newspaper articles on government interest in electromagnetic mind control tools for fighting terrorism. Dr. Rao stated, “This technique of using electromagnetic radiation can control the mind of the suicide bomber and make him to leave his target place silently without making any effort to explode the bomb at the given area. ”Mr Rao added, “We don ’t have this technique available right now. We have to adopt the technology. ”India ’s top forensic scientist also discussed “target oriented low frequency portable electromagnetic radiation tools, which could remotely be used by criminal on a person ’s body parts and create havoc in respect of brain damage, heartache, kidney failure, liver damage. ”Click here for pdf ’s of the full newspaper article.
Background information: about Dr. M. S. Rao, Chief Forensic Scientist, Directorate of Forensic Science, Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs and the forensic concerns for India today. Brain mapping has been in use in India for six to seven years. Terrorism, bombings, rural crime are major concerns to India today. Forensic expert Dr Chandrasekharan stated “Brain finger-printing is half baked evidence and it cannot be accepted as evidence ”. India courts do not admit this evidence in court, rather it is a police
interrogation method.
Background information: 1993 terrorist bombings in India and brain mapping forensic tools.
A special thank you to the alleged victim of mind control in India for sending this information to Mind Justice. He warns:
“I feel this should made public and brought under legal control like lie detector or narco analysis systems. This technology is a disaster for
freedom of humanity. We don ’t know how many deaths are really
happening because of this technology. There is nobody [no government official] responsible and no legal records [laws on the books] existing. No one knows the reasons for becoming targets. ”
In the last year, several people from India, especially from Kashmir, and all walks of life have contacted Mind Justice alleging targeting and surveillance with mind control technologies amounting to torture. The alleged victim sent Mind Justice a photo of a “help ”poster. This picture of one of several posters was taken in 2005 at the New Delhi, India, Palika Bazaar. Click here for an image of the photo. He explained:
Once I was in Delhi I saw a several posters pasted on the walls of a
central market place in New Delhi. I had camera as I was on tour there, I took a snap of the poster. Unfortunately the email address on the poster did not come clearly. It was a “ HELP ”poster describing the problems of some victim of this technology, its heading was “secret mind reading system is being misused to torture people, stop them.
The exact location is the roadside walls of central Delhi underground market at Canaughtplace, the Palika Bazaar. This I noticed while going to enter the Palika Bazaar. You can see ventilators of the market beside the poster.
The Hyderabad edition of the daily newspaper Deccan Chronicle dated January 7, 2006, page 5 reported details of Dr. Rao ’s speech including the following. The article is entitled Tools to Trick Bomber ’s Minds . A photo scan of this newspaper article is posted here.
Scientists are planning to use Low Frequency portable electromagnetic radiation tools to immobilise the suicide bombers, said Dr M.S. Rao, chief forensic scientist and director of Forensic Science from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Making a keynote address at the Forensic Science Forum as part of the 93rd Indian Science Congress held at the National Police Academy on Friday Mr. Rao said, “This technique of using electromagnetic radiation can control the mind of the suicide bomber and make him to leave his target place silently without making any effort to explode the bomb at the given area. ”Mr Rao added, “We don ’t have this technique available right now. We have to adopt the technology. It will show effect on the brain. Nowadays suicide attacks by terrorist outfits demand innovative
planning and rethinking on forensic research. A suicide bomber has to be tackled properly by detecting explosives from safe stand off distances. ”“Forensic psychology also plays a vital role in dealing terrorist cases. Narco analysis and brainwave fingerprinting can reveal future plans of terrorists and can be deciphered to prevent terror activities, ”Mr Rao said. “Preventive forensics will play a key role in countering terror acts. Cyber terrorists are targeting e- commerce and e-governance, ”he added. “In jail, criminals talk with co - conspirators on mobile phones which is not permitted. Cellphone jammers in the jails make the mobile phone non -functional. This arrangement puts the jail officers and visitors to inconvenience. To overcome this problem, now cost- effective Frequency Selection Wall Paper Screens (FSS) with metal grids have been designed to filter all radio signals and silence the cell phone in jail. This arrangement will also help detect cell phones in jails when not switched off, ”said Rao.
“Small radio isotope sources used for diagnostic purposes, therapy in hospitals and for Research in universities and organisations are pilfered and used in making in dirty bombs which after explosion can have severe radiation effect on water resources, animals and plants, ”Mr Rao said. webindia123.com posted the following Hyderabad, January 07, 2006 newspaper article entitled Crime Base Shifting to Rural, Tribal Areas . The full article is posted here:
http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp? id=212546&n_date=2006010&cat=India
Expressing concern that rural India is now the target of criminals and terrorists, Director- cum - Chief Forensic Scientist, Ministry of Home
Affairs, Dr MS Rao said crime base is shifting from urban areas to rural and tribal areas and the government should strengthen forensic technology to fight against growing crime pattern.
Dr Rao said the present day society not only faces normal crimes but also face challenges from terrorism. He said there has been no serious
thought as to how to effectively nip the threat in the bud. “Forensic potentials must be harnessed to detect and nullify their plans.
Traditional methods have proved to be a failure to handle them. The latest trend is towards preventive forensics ”, he added. . . .
Dr Rao said there are also challenges for forensic experts with respect to target oriented low frequency portable electromagnetic radiation tools, which could remotely be used by criminal on a person ’s body parts and create havoc in respect of brain damage, heartache, kidney failure, liver damage.
An article found on Westlaw database added further information on the Forensic Science Forum, 93rd Indian Science Congress meeting described in the news articles sent by the alleged victim. The Daily Excelsior, “the largest circulated daily of Jammu and Kashmir ”, January 8, 2006, Crime Base Shifting to Rural, Tribal Areas reported: Dr Rao said urban public were now slowly geared to know more about forensics. But the rural and tribal population were yet to be educated about the forensic importance of crime scene management. “The forensic facilities should be brought to the door steps of common man. Rural awakening on forensic activism is the solution for better crime management, ”he added.
Dr Rao said now terrorists were targeting e- commerce and e-governance. He said their safe functioning now depends on forensic capabilities. Preventive forensics and forensic intelligence gathering tools would play a major role in redefining safety and security standards not only in e- governance but also in civil aviation, internet surveillance and critical infrastructure protection, he said.
Dr Rao said forensic auditing could play a vital role for proper utilisation of funds right from the start till end - government policy formulation, programming and evaluation and impact assessment studies. He said IT had also given completely new shades and dimensions to criminal profiles. E - mail tracking tools along with e- mail data mining and filtering tools at ISP and server points have become essential for the investigating agencies, he added.
Dr Rao said there are also challenges for forensic experts with respect to target oriented low frequency portable electromagnetic radiation tools, which could remotely be used by criminal on a person ’s body parts and create havoc in respect of brain damage, heartache, kidney failure, liver damage.
Dr Rao said Government should strengthen forensic technology in a mission mode for a crimeless rural and tribal population and to fight against the growing crime pattern which stands in the way of developmental activities in agriculture, medicine, economics, industry and communication.
Delivering the valedictory address, Andhra Pradesh Director- General of Police Swaranjit Sen said Indian Police has been serving the nation well despite many changes in society and politics. He said forensics always reminded the police of better and sophisticated way of policing. “Since forensic science has progressed fast over the years, the police officers and the IPS probationers need to gain more knowledge in this area. There is also need for more forensic labs in the country ”, he added.
Nalsar University Vice Chancellor Dr Ranbir Singh, who presided over the function said still there was doubt whether courts would admit all the forensic evidence. He opined that the Science Congress should also have a session on law from the coming years.
Former director of Forensic Science Laboratory, Tamil Nadu Dr P
Chandrasekharan said if forensic science is separated from basic sciences it would be a big blunder. He said Forensic Science was to be a part of the Indian Science Congress.
Referring to forensic technology and police interrogation, Dr
Chandrasekharan suggested the police officers said basic police
interrogation cannot be ignored just because of forensic technology. “Indian police is second to none. The police investigation is high level intellectual pursuit. Brain finger-printing is half baked evidence and it cannot be accepted as evidence ”, he added.
Dr Chandrasekhar said India was still following the first generation of forensic technology. He said the advanced countries are following the third generation of forensic technology. The government needs to give lot of emphasis to forensic technology.
This information received wide coverage. The Hindu , “India ’s National Newspaper ”also reported this January 7th, 2006 story. Harness Forensic Science to Thwart Terror Plans. Scientist advocates ‘preventive forensics ’as traditional methods failed to handle terrorists. Crime base shifting from urban areas to rural areas. Forensic planning has to be formulated for rural and tribal population . The article is available online at http://www.hinduonnet.com/2006/01/07/stories/2006010719370400.htm Hyderabad - M.S. Rao, Chief Forensic Scientist, Home Ministry, has said that the potential of forensic science must be harnessed to nip in the bud plans of terrorists, as traditional methods failed to handle them.
Delivering the keynote address at the valedictory of the Forensic Science Forum, held as part of the 93rd Indian Science Congress, here on Friday, he said that forensics was no more viewed as a tool for post- incident analysis. The latest trend was “preventive forensics ”. It was used as a pre- incident analysing tool to detect/prevent crime. Stating that preventive forensics would play a major role in criminal justice system, Dr. Rao wanted the Government to strengthen forensic technology for a crimeless rural and tribal population. Taking advantage of the situation in rural areas, it was now feared that the crime base was shifting from urban areas. “These are now going to be breeding grounds for all sorts of criminal and terrorist activities. Forensic planning has to be formulated for rural and tribal population before crime took a deep root in those areas.
Vice- Chancellor NALSAR University Ranbir Singh stressed the need for greater interface between law and various sciences. The university Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics was drafting a DNA profiling bill, providing for an interface between law and forensic science.
DGP Swaranjit Sen said three more forensic science laboratories would be established in the State. P. Chandrasekharan, former director,
Forensic Science Laboratory, Tamil Nadu, advised the police not to
replace interrogation with other techniques. K.P.C. Gandhi, director, AP Forensic Science Laboratory, welcomed.
Background information: about Dr. M. S. Rao, Chief Forensic Scientist, Directorate of Forensic Science, Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, and the forensic concerns for India today
The information below corroborates the alleged victim and the newspaper articles and indicate the eminent government status of Dr. Rao. A description of the Indian Science Congress and its programs is also included below and illustrates what India and forensic science is like today.
About Ministry of Home Affairs of the government of India
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is the central Ministry responsible for all matters relating to India ’s internal security. As the policy and planning body for the growth and modernization of forensic science in India, their mandate is to become the premier Forensic Science Organization in the world in order to deter criminals. The MHA ’s vision is to achieve this by remaining at the forefront of Forensic Science through continuous research and development efforts and the use of state of the art technology.
About the Indian Science Congress Association
The Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) owes its origin to the foresight and initiative of two British Chemists, namely, Professor J. L. Simonsen and Professor P.S. MacMahon. It occurred to them that scientific research in India might be stimulated if an annual meeting of research workers somewhat on the lines of the British Association for the Advancement
of Science could be arranged.
The Association was formed with the following objectives :
i. to advance and promote the cause of science in India;
ii. to hold an annual congress at a suitable place in India;
iii. to publish proceedings, journals, transactions, etc;
iv. to popularise science.
From this modest beginning with hundred and five members and thirty five papers communicated for reading at the first session, ISCA has grown into a strong fraternity with more than ten thousand members to date. The number of papers communicated for reading has risen to nearly one thousand.
There are now fourteen sections namely Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sciences, Anthropological and Behavioural Sciences (including Archaeology and Psychology & Educational Sciences), Chemical Sciences, Earth System Sciences, Engineering Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Information and Communication Science & Technology (including Computer Sciences), Material Sciences, Mathematical Sciences (including Statistics), Medical Sciences (including Physiology), New Biology (including Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology and Biotechnology), Physical Sciences, Plant Sciences and one Committee Science & Society. . . .
Integrated Rural Development: Science and Technology, hosted by Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University Rajendranagar, Hyderabad - The Indian Science Congress Association, Kolkata.
India made significant and impressive progress and forged ahead in all walks of life and is set to become a Developed Nation by 2020. The advancements in science and technology, together with enabling public policies, foster the growth and
development of the country. The visionary first Prime Minister of India has laid firm foundations for sound scientific research by establishing a network of national Scientific Laboratories.
Despite all the achievements made in the fields of science and technology, food front, industries, rural India is plagued with multitude of daunting problems, lacking even the minimum basic human needs like safe drinking water, hospitals, health care, sanitation, educational facilities, proper housing, storage and roads etc. The fact is, seventy two percent of India ’s population (1025 million) lives in seven lakh villages, with a low per capita income of less than 11/2 dollars a day and a parity purchasing power of mere 8.2US $. Twenty six percent of India ’s population is below the poverty line with no security of any kind. The country produces food enough for its huge population, yet paradoxically, those below the poverty line do not have access to food, because with the meager income they are unable to purchase food.
They must have gainful employment to earn more. The quality of life of people in rural India is poor compared to the urbans. If India has to be a global power, the country has to be economically strong, apart from being scientifically strong. India ’s economy basically is agrarian with 67 percent people dependent on agriculture, the sector contributing 25- 26 percent to GDP and 14 - 15 percents of country ’s exports accounted by agriculture and allied sectors. It is now recognized that agriculture, horticulture, livestock, poultry and fisheries sectors would play a dominant role in the future economy of the country to maintain a high GDP growth rate. Economic and political thinkers agree that sine qua non of national development is agriculture and rural development.
It is, therefore, necessary to inquire, to what extent scientists and scientific labs have responded to the needs of the society/country in the context of changed scenario; nationally and globally; globalization and WTO? Are there implementable technologies?
Are they adequate, relevant to the local conditions and resources to meet the challenges of rural India? Who are their clients and stakeholders? Did they accept the technologies? To What Extent the scientific labs and Scientists have re- oriented research to serve the stakeholders?
Focus Areas
Sustainable agriculture and allied sectors for enhanced productivity and quality and food, nutrition and household security.
Education - Enterprise and employment oriented education and training for production, value addition, local and national needs - whither science education and research.
Health care - Health secure India
Water security and Sanitation.
Cottage, small scale and agro -based industries.
Processing, value addition for profitability and exports.
Bio - diversity conservation, eco -technologies, marine technologies and natural resources management.
Non - conventional energy sources and bio - diesel.
Physical infrastructure, transport, communications and internet connectivity. Women and youth empowerment, employment guarantee, farm and non -farm sectors.
Marketing, storage, market intelligence, inter- national trade.
Natural disasters management and preparedness - cyclones, floods, drought, earthquakes, tidal waves/tsunami.
Harnessing indigenous knowledge and frontier technologies -biotechnology, information technology, remote sensing technology, space technology, nano technology, communication technology- technology parks.
Poverty alleviation and improving quality of life
Science and technology for sustainable development and in response to basic human needs.
Cutting edge technologies, knowledge and information empowerment. India as a global partner in herbal, IT and pharma products.
Training for services, tourism, entertainment, fine arts and rural crafts. Frontiers in pharma products and business process outstanding in pharma sector.
Impact of WTO, PPV, IPR, TRIPS, SPS on Indian economy and sustainable development.
Public private partnership and industry academia partnership.
Background information: India ’s 1993 terrorist bombings and brain mapping forensic tools.
The alleged victim also sent the following background information.
In recent news Abu Selam a wanted underground Don who was caught in Pourtagal and extradited to India. He was wanted in Bombay Bomb Blasts cases 1993. The police conducted lie detector test on him, Narco Analysis ( some medicine is injected due to which the subject looses voluntary control over self mind and gives true answers), and brain
mapping investigations to record his confiscations. These things came in the news in that connection.
As Dr. Rao explained, forensic science in India is very concerned with terrorism. A 2003 India newspaper account explained why. The url is here, followed by the relevant excerpts. http://www.mid - day.com/bombblast/trial1.htm
It has been a decade since the terrible bomb blasts shook the city. And while in its true spirit, the city bounced back to normalcy the very next day, there is no arguing that the scars of the worst urban terrorism
(before 9/11) still remain un - obliterated. Here ’s a look at the cause and effect of what happened on this dreadful day 10 years ago.
The D - Day:
On Friday, the 12th of March 1993, Mumbai, the commercial capital of India, was rocked by a series of bomb explosions, which resulted in the death of 257 people, injuries to 713 and damage to public property worth Rs.27 crores.
Location of the blasts:
The blasts were caused at prestigious and important buildings like
Mumbai Stock Exchange, Air- India Building, Hotel Sea Rock, Hotel Juhu Centaur, Hotel Airport Centaur and busy commercial areas like Zaveri Bazar, Century Bazar and Katha Bazar. Explosions were also caused near Shiv Sena Bhawan and at Plaza Theatre. Simultaneously, hand -grenades were thrown at Sahar International Airport and at Fishermen ’s Colony inhabited by members of Hindu community at Mahim, with the object to incite communal violence.
The culprits:
According to the investigation agencies the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan, incited three Bombay underworld dons namely
Dawood Ibrahim, Tiger Memon and Mohd. Dossa to seek revenge by causing bomb explosions and by committing other terrorist acts.
Modus Operandi:
A large quantity of arms and explosives were smuggled into the country during Jan. and Feb.1993. The smuggled consignments landed at Dighi Jetti and Shekhadi Coast in Distt. Raigad. New vehicles to be used as vehicle bombs were purchased in fictitious names by making payments in cash. The vehicles included vans, cars, jeeps and scooters. False cavities were made in the vehicles so as to use them for filling RDX.
The explosive material, which was stored at different places in Bombay, was transported to the garages at Al - Hussaini Building. During the night of 11/12th March, 1993, one by one, the said new vehicles were brought in the compound of Al - Hussaini building, and RDX mixed with iron scrap, nails, bolts etc., was filled in the cavities.
End of trial, brings no reprieve
At noon yesterday, India ’s longest- running trial closed. . . .
The judgement, which is expected within the next six months, will end not just the longest trial, but also perhaps one of the most complex cases handled by the Indian judiciary. There are 122 accused facing trial for the world ’s worst terrorist attack till WTC happened and the judge has to refer to 42,000 pages of charges and evidence.
One of the terrorist suspects, Abu Salem will undergo brain mapping according to the following articles. This first article describes the charges against Abu Salem. November 11, 2005, VOA [Voice of America] News: Prime Suspect in 1993 Bombay Bomb Blasts Extradited to India, by Anjana Pasricha.
A prime suspect in a wave of bomb blasts that hit Bombay in 1993 has been
extradited to India from Portugal. Abu Salem is one of India ’s most
wanted men. . . .
Indian authorities say Abu Salem, along with an associate, Dawood Ibrahim,
planned a series of explosions that ripped through Bombay in 1993, killing more than 250 people and injuring hundreds more.
It was India ’s deadliest terrorist attack, and was believed to be in
retaliation for religious riots that killed hundreds of Muslims earlier that year in Bombay. . . .
A government prosecutor says Abu Salem will face charges of committing a terrorist act against the country, criminal conspiracy, and supply of arms and ammunition.
Before his flight from the country, Mr. Salem was one of the Indian underworld ’s most dreaded figures. Indian officials say he is also a suspect
in several high profile cases involving Bombay film producers and actors, including murders, extortion and kidnapping..
This Hindu newspaper article mentioned the brain mapping tests of Abu Salem by government officials. December 29, 2005, Abu Salem Put to Lie Detector Test, To be subjected to brain mapping in builder murder case .
Abu Salem arriving for lie detector test at the Forensic Science
Laboratory. During the nearly five- hour test, Salem was posed several questions with regard to the murder of Pradeep Jain, a Mumbai builder, who was shot dead at his Andheri office in March 1995, official sources said. . . . According to the sources, Salem will be also be subjected to brain mapping and narco - analysis to ascertain his suspected involvement in the Jain murder case.
The two tests are likely to be conducted on Thursday and Friday, they said.
Experts from the FSL, with the assistance of doctors, will conduct narco - analysis on him at the Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital, the sources said.
According to city police sources, Salem will be lodged in an “undisclosed and secure place ”here till the tests are completed. The police tightened security at the FSL on Wednesday. On a request by the Mumbai ’s Anti - Terrorist Squad (ATS), which is probing the Jain murder case, a TADA Court there on Friday granted mandatory permission for subjecting Salem to narco - analysis.
This article mentioned the brain mapping test to be performed on Abu Salem. Hindustan Times, January 7, 2006, The Cops ’Magic Potion .
New Delhi, India, After doctors at Bowring and Lady Curzon hospital in Bangalore injected a combination of Dextrose and Sodium Pentathol and Dextrose mixed with water into Abu Salem ’s blood stream, he talked at length about his life in the last 15 years, answering questions fired by experts.
The interrogators had reasons to believe all that they heard. This was narco analysis in action. The answers, according to forensic sources, could provide vital clues that could change the investigation path.
However, the forensic officials refused to confirm the names of celebrities and the role they played.
So, what is narco analysis all about? In this test, the person ’s imagination is neutralised by making him/her sub - conscious. The experts first inject the “truth serum ”(sodium pentathol or sodium amytal) ahead of the tests. Soon after, simple but specific questions are posed. The answers will be spontaneous as the person cannot manipulate them (answers). Simultaneously, a team of doctors will monitor his reactions, even facial expressions, and parameters such as his pulse rate, heart beat and body temperature. Based on reports of these tests, the investigating officers corroborate information gathered previously on a person ’s involvement in crime.
According to Dr P Mohan, Director, Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Bangalore, Investigating officers (IOs) who know the importance of all three tests - polygraph (lie detector), narco analysis and brain mapping, will subject criminals to all of them. Otherwise, the officers settle only for polygraph. “If the officers discover that one is deceptive during polygraph, then brain mapping comes into play followed by narco analysis. All these tests take about three to five hours. We have been doing polygraph tests for almost a decade now and have been conducting brain mapping for six to seven years. But it ’s not necessary that any criminal brought here must be subjected to all the three tests, ”Dr Mohan said. The name polygraph comes from the fact that the machine records several different body responses simultaneously as the individual is questioned. A series of different sensors are attached to the body, and as the polygraph measures changes in breathing, blood pressure, pulse and perspiration, pens record the data on graph paper. During a lie detector test, the scientist asks a series of control questions that set the pattern of how an individual responds when giving true and false answers. Then the actual questions are asked, mixed in with filler questions.
Mind Justice will continue to research this topic, as a description of the brain mapping test, in use in India for several years, according to India newspaper articles, could not be found. Please click to e- mail Mind Justice at to share any further information on this topic. Mind Justice welcomes any newspaper reporters to investigate further and answer the many questions raised by this information. So far, no responses from India newspapers and India government officials, etc. have been forthcoming.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Forensic Activism
Forensic Activism —
The Need of the Hour for Rural India By Dr. M. S. Rao Director- cum- Chief Forensic Scientist
DFS, MHA, GOI
Forensic investigation is not new to our society. But coining of the word “forensics ”is of recent origin. The forensic field was in a primitive state of development during fifties of last century. Slowly during later part of the century, with the introduction of hi -tech crimes into the society, forensic identification process got accelerated & strengthened through modern instrumentation & automation.
The forensic applications are not limited to criminal laws only, they cover civil laws, consumers protection, product reliability, medical integrity, environmental protection, national security etc.
Police and judiciary are now fully aware about forensic importance in any sort of crime scene management. But the urban public are now slowly geared to know more about forensics, thanks to TV channels. But the rural & tribal population are yet to be educated about the forensic importance of crime scene management. Taking advantage of the above situation in rural India, it is now feared that the crime base is shifting from urban areas to rural & tribal areas. These are now going to be the breeding grounds for all sorts of criminal & terrorist activities. Forensic planning has to be formulated for rural & tribal population before the crime takes deep root in these areas which are supposed to be fertile for anti social elements at present. Poor village folk is now a prey to crimes like counterfeit currency, adulterated food/water, fake bank accounts/insurance policies, pension accounts, terrorism, abduction, flesh trade, smuggling of narcotics etc.
Govt takes responsibility to provide the bare necessities of life in a mission mode so that in a given span of time, the goal can be achieved. We have a number of millennium missions for rural India like mission on food, shelter, health,
education, water, transport etc. But there is nothing in a mission mode to curb the ill effects of criminal activities even though all, in some way or other, are affected by criminals. It is seen that crime is the major factor which stands as a barrier against achieving our mission goals. Crime, of course , is no more localized, it is organized and globalised. Local laws also face a challenge from the present day crimes. They need reformation against hi - tech crimes. Forensics which is combination of science & law, can be one of the means to go for a crimeless society.
The present day society not only faces normal crimes but they also face challenges from terrorism. Terrorism may not be new phenomenon but nobody had given a serious thought as to how to effectively nip the threats in the bud. Forensic potentials must be harnessed to detect & nullify their plans. Traditional methods have proved to be a failure to handle them. The latest trend is towards preventive forensics. Forensics is now no more viewed as a tool for post incident analysis. It now helps the society as a preventive forensic tool. It is used as a pre-incident analyzing tool to detect & prevent crime before it takes place. This demands the forensic facilities to be brought to the door steps of common man.
The increased role of forensic technology now aims for quick & quality results through validated tools. Any error or late submission will help the criminal or terrorist in achieving his goal and the credibility of the forensic community will be at stake.
Now a days forensic intelligence gathering techniques are major tools in countering any sort of crime. Forensic data is a key tool for intelligence evaluation. Now terrorists are targeting e- commerce & e- Governance. The automation has not only made our life comfortable but a kick at times from cyber terrorists makes life a hell. The society cannot role back on e- commerce and e-governance but their smooth & safe functioning now depends on forensic capabilities. Similarly e-banking is also facing challenges from e- criminals. A number of established firms have collapsed due to this criminal activity. Individuals are not exceptions to this sort of crime. Daily thousands of innocent persons are turning victims of these e-banking offences. Rural population should be aware of “dos and don ’ts ”on e-banking. The present day hi - tech printing technology has made it possible to bring out fake currency, security papers, passport, visa, appointment letters, mark sheet,
certificates etc. It is very difficult even for an educated person to identify the present day fake/forged documents, leave aside the innocent village folk. Rural folk have to be educated on this front also.
Preventive forensics and forensic intelligence gathering tools are going to play a major role in redefining safety & security standards not only in e- governance but also in civil aviation, internet surveillance, critical infrastructure protection etc. Time is now ripe for law enforcement managers to insist with the State & central Govt. to fully support the rural & tribal forensic demands and needs. Public & judiciary now demand for forensic activism because the present day hi -tech crimes can only be tackled through forensics. Forensic activism among rural /tribal population will definitely act as a deterrent factor for further commission of crime. The present day rural & tribal population even don ’t know what forensic demands stand for. They are to be first educated on crime scene protection & its management & on forensic nursing to take forensic care of the victims of rape, murders, bride burning etc. They have no idea - why they are to protect the crime scene, how to protect, what to protect, whom to call, what to collect & to whom to refer. Similarly in cases of murders/suicides, the rural tribals have no education to handle the situation from forensic point of view. They even don ’t know what forensic clues are and how they can be preserved till forensic experts take charge of the situation. Thus rural awakening on forensic activism is the solution for better crime scene management.
These things can easily be tackled in two ways.
1. Practically all rural/tribal areas are now having video display units. Forensic teaching material particularly on crime scene protection & management can be supplied for regular video display. Even frequently asked question/answer sessions on forensics can also be arranged to make the learning more interesting & effective.
2. The locally available Home Guards and self help- groups can be trained on forensic nursing to forensically handle the victims of different types of crimes. Here NGOs can also play a vital role if they are made aware of the forensic education on crime scene management.
A number of rural/tribal development/investment schemes are in operation. Sufficient funds are made available by State Govt, Central Govt., & even by international agencies for development of rural/tribal India. Even after five decades of independence we have not been able to provide them with the basic urban amenities like clean drinking water, home for homeless, proper roads, schooling facilities and many more. Forensic auditing can play a vital role for proper utilization of funds right from the start till end i.e., policy formulation,
programming and evaluation and impact assessment studies. Forensic auditing is the targeting application of detailed audit procedures to identify if there is any illegal, unauthorized or un -procedural use of funds and assets and also to establish the identity of those responsible. It also evaluates the condition of internal controls and accounting and separate review of the potential for and existence of fradulant or illegal acts. Forensic auditing reports will provide valuable inputs to the govt. for redressing the existing programmes and reflect the flaws in the implementation of such developmental schemes. To make the best use of the developmental funds under different schemes, the introduction of forensic auditing will definitely be welcome by one & all. This will also bring real value to such rural/tribal
developmental activities. It will prove to be cross cutting instrument in bringing transparency in all the schemes which are to be implemented for development of rural India. Forensic auditing can keep an eye on the proper utilization of funds at the grass root level and enable the rural poor to improve the quality of their lives. Challenges from Emerging crimes and latest forensic trends It is now observed that terrorist and IT related crimes are the latest trends in crime scenario.
The modus operandi of the terrorist activities are ever changing but the scientific community has to anticipate them and devise appropriate technological strategies to detect them, negate their efforts or reduce the attrition drastically. The forensics will have to find effective field channels to nip the horror of terrorists activities in the bud itself. Thus the burden of present day forensics is to tune its efforts for success in pre-incident detection and even prevention.
Now- a - days suicide attacks by terrorist outfits demand innovative planning and rethinking on forensic research. Efforts to detect explosives from safe stand off distances, at the terrorist laboratories or at the raw material acquisition stage, has to get success to handle suicide bombers.
Again forensic interrogation and forensic psychology are now on priority list with investigating agencies dealing with terrorist cases. Now with narco - analysis and brain finger printing techniques, the information relating to crime stored in the brain can be revealed. The future plans of terrorists can be deciphered and action can be initiated to prevent occurrence of the crime. The co - conspirators and their whereabouts can also be ascertained. The reasons behind witnesses turning hostile can also be ascertained through these techniques.
IT has given completely new shades and dimensions to criminal profiles. Digital pornography, staganography, spywares, e- mail threats, e- transaction frauds etc. are of recent origin but have become serious threats to social peace & security. E - mail tracking tools along with e- mail data mining and filtering tools at ISP and server points have become essential for the investigating agencies. Staganographic detection and filtering tools are emerging to defeat the ill intentions of criminals. Cryptographic and password cracking tools are helping the security agencies to decipher the hidden information. For safety purposes the operational aspects of computers and cell phones and all sorts of access control systems are now going to be monitored by integrated biometric tools against impersonation and
unauthorized entry.
Now it is a fact that internet has become the biggest store house of knowledge – for good purposes and also for criminal purposes. It is not only a knowledge bank for children, adults or elders and but also an efficient and cost effective medium of audio/video communications. But these are now a matter of concern in respect of terrorist and anti - social activities. Now scientists are working to bring out preventive forensic tools against these dangerous internet audio/video
communication systems.
It is predicted that during 2006, internet will also be put to use for management of house hold articles like fridge, washing machine, pressure cooker, room cleaner, room heater etc. At the same time, it is feared that anti social elements will misuse the beneficial tools by releasing anti - activity softwares which can undo your commands without your knowledge and even can do harm to all your systems. Again same operational tools in their hands can be put to fire guns or even explode bombs remotely.
However the new internet version assures that it has incorporated security features for a safe internet usage in every walk of life whether it is e-transaction or audio/video communication or internet operational aspects of house hold articles. Dedicated internet facilities are coming soon in the field of medical tele- diagnostics, medical tele- surgeries and medical status on tele- monitoring systems. Now target oriented low frequency portable electromagnetic radiation tools have been developed which can remotely be used by criminals on our body parts and create havoc in respect of brain damage, heartache, kidney failure, lever damage, etc. But the criminal will leave no trace of his involvement through these criminal acts and these are going to be a big challenge to forensic experts. However, the scientists plan to use the same technique on suicide bombers. Through this technique they expect to control the mind of suicide bomber and make him to leave the place silently without making any effort to explode the bomb at the given target area. Now- a - days spywares are rampant on internet. These enter the computer systems through e- mail or free downloads and then scan and sniff the desired information to pass it on silently to the perpetrator who in turn can do harm with the sniffed or leaked information, specifically in respect of bank account numbers., I.D. number, social security number (in US) etc. This has become a nuisance for e-transactions where your bank account number and other information can be used to draw money. To overcome this sort of e- attacks or e- sniffing, anti - spywares have surfaced which will filter out such unauthorized concealed attachments.
Now with cell phone cloning technique, one can make phone calls at others expenses. Scientists are now serious to arrest this menace and prevent this sort of crime through punching an authorization code into the phone each time a charge is made. But recently introduced life time cell charging facility has thrown a challenge to the authorization code which is yet to pick up score in the commercial market. In jails, criminals talk with co - conspirators on cell phones, which is not permitted. Cell phone jammers in jails make the cell phones non -functional. This arrangement also puts the jail officers and visitors into inconvenience. To overcome this problem, now cost effective frequency selection wall paper screens (FSS) with metal grids have been designed in an intricate pattern to filter all radio signals and silence the cell phones in the jail through this cost affective technique. Again this arrangement can also act as cell phone detector (when not switched off) for jail authorities.
It is now feared that it may not be impossible for hi -tech criminals to have their own portable high powered electromagnetic/ microwave controlled tools. This will bring a dangerous turn of events in the society. Preventive forensic tools have to concentrate on techniques to detect and incapacitate such tools and also prevent from actual operation by anti social elements.
Now going for biotechnology, it is again feared that genetically modified food articles have critical genetic effects on human beings and animals. But they are being put into regular market as a criminal activity which can result long term genetic effects and defects on living beings. Now it is also seen that in the name of stem cell therapy, fake claims are there which have created psycho -fear in the minds of common man.
Now- a - days, it is seen that small radio isotope sources used for diagnostic purposes and for therapy in hospitals and for R&D purposes in universities and research organizations are pilferaged and are used in making dirty bombs which after explosion can have severe radiation effect on water resources, plants, animals and even on human beings.
Critical infrastructures like national tele communication facility, power grid control system, automated aviation safety system, automated railway safety system, satellite control station, defence preparedness centre, tele- medicine facilities, tele- transaction facilities etc. are also facing grunt of criminal assaults. Now it has become a routine affair that all national critical infrastructures are e- controlled. The employees or ex- employees are mostly seen to have involvement in IT - related crimes. They are now highly prone to terrorist threats. But scientists have succeeded in controlling critical infrastructures by self diagnostic tools which can act against any sort of intentional human interventions and set right the faults to save them from major disasters. These intelligent and dynamic security
management tools will not allow one man dictation to make the infrastructure to face any disaster and to fall prey to the crime.
It is seen that major IT related crimes are the brain child of employees or ex- employees who know “ins and outs ”of the whole system. Honesty and integrity of the employees speak success of any system. Unethical practices of the employees can lead to disasters. To prevent from such disasters, time is not far off when the employees will be subjected to lie- detection and brain fingerprint tests to prove their honest mental status. Now portable but powerful lie- detectors, fitted to sunglasses with real -time analytical facilities, are now commercially available. These will definitely act as an aid to investigation process.
Plastic explosives like RDX give out very little amount of vapours which make the vapour detecting tools ineffective. The criminals take advantage of the situation to smuggle RDX for criminal activities. The problem has now been tackled with introduction of specific chemical taggants having high vapour pressure in plastic explosives which can easily be detected by usual vapor detectors. Again if explosives are hidden in hermetically sealed containers, they can be detected and identified through a recently introduced special x- ray imaging software. The same is also now being introduced for scanning big containers which are responsible to smuggle huge quantity of plastic explosives. Again tera hetz- ray instrumentation with special image processing software can be used as a “see through ”tool against concrete walls or body covers.
Powerful night vision devices and video cameras with special softwares act as failure proof sentinels in border areas/restricted zones against unauthorized intrusion by terrorists/criminals.
It is claimed that confidential/top secret data in stand alone computers is considered to be safe against data pilferage. But now electromagnetic capturing devices can capture the data when the same is entered into or analyzed by a stand alone computer and then through a special dedicated software can be deciphered and reproduced even from 100 meters. The tool when in the hands of govt. secret agents can be used to compile data from suspect computers of criminals/terrorists and take steps to fail their ill intensions but when in the hands of criminals, it can be used to collect all govt./defence secret information which is actually not in the interest of the nation. But in such situations, scientists make use of electromagnetic shielding facilities to contain the data to the computer alone. Again there is one more criminal activity for stand alone computers i.e. theft of hard disc which is actually the store house of the whole data/information. But RFID embedded hard disc when removed from computer systems raises alarm and also helps in tracking down the criminal.
Firearms may be good for self defense but they are dangerous in the hands of criminals/terrorists. They forcefully or illegally take possession of the firearms and create terror. But now the new generation of firearms are with such hardwares and softwares that they can recognize the grip of the authorized person only and will refuse to fire for others. In some other preventive measures, the triggers are embedded with fingerprint sensors which will only allow the authorized fellow to fire. In some other cases, the trigger can only be activated with an IR sensor. It is often seen that the terrorists ambush police/para military and military personal and snatch their firearms and communication tools. The snatched firearms/communication systems if embedded with RFID chips can be tracked and seized. Now also e- controlled firearms have surfaced which will allow only authorized person to fire. In this situation, the snatched firearms can not be used to fire as per the will of the criminal.
Determining time, place and direction of firing is a big question mark for ballistic experts. But experiments have been successfully conducted by incorporating GPS receivers and other devices which record exact place, time and direction of firing from a firearm. This system has great relevance to forensic investigation and reconstruction of shooting incidents.
Now super caustic chemicals have surfaced which can if spread in atmosphere make the chip boards in digital tools inoperative and ineffective. Details are available for all on internet. If these fall in the hands of criminals, they can make every thing to come to stand still and create hell on earth. Detection of the chemicals & prevention aspects have become a challenge to forensic chemists. Computer designed chemicals can now play havoc in the hands of anti - social elements. Specially cultured bacteria can be used by criminals to corrode and degrade components of computer/electronic/communication systems. Acoustic beams and blinding laser tools can destroy sensors used for detecting explosives and narcotic drugs and can even cause nasty consequences to the victims. Scientists have devised a number of anti - material technological innovations like natural inhibitors and wireless stun devices which help in immobilizing the suspects at a safe distance. But these will not go to the extent of killing any individual.
Non - nuclear electromagnetic pulse generators can destroy or disable power system, electronic circuiting, communication and computer systems.
Portable high power microwave generator can also destroy/damage electronics, explode ammunition or disable vehicles run with electronic ignition or controls. Internal combustion engines can be disrupted through special chemical
compounds. These chemical compounds would temporarily contaminate fuel or change its viscosity to degrade engine function.
Recently introduced i -pod have become a device that should be looked for in the diverse crime scene of today. The cyber forensic practitioners of tomorrow will not only find the i -pod in their crime scenes, but also a diverse array of unique devices that have not been thought of yet. The cyber forensic community must be ready to accept this continued evolution of technology and respond with theories, tools, methods & practices to account for the ever challenging technology world. The so called non -lethal weapons developed for helping law enforcement agencies are now feared to have been smuggled into the domain of anti social elements and terrorists. These have now given a challenge to forensic technology and thus have accelerated the process of opting preventive forensics to minimize the misuse of tools by the criminals.
I have given few examples of challenges from modern crimes & latest forensic trends which clearly show that forensic activism in the crime ridden society is not far off and preventive forensics is going to play a major role in the criminal justice system. I wish Govt. will strengthen forensic technology in a mission mode for a crimeless rural and tribal population and to fight against the growing crime pattern which stands in the way of developmental activities in agriculture, medicine, economics, industry, communication etc.
The Need of the Hour for Rural India By Dr. M. S. Rao Director- cum- Chief Forensic Scientist
DFS, MHA, GOI
Forensic investigation is not new to our society. But coining of the word “forensics ”is of recent origin. The forensic field was in a primitive state of development during fifties of last century. Slowly during later part of the century, with the introduction of hi -tech crimes into the society, forensic identification process got accelerated & strengthened through modern instrumentation & automation.
The forensic applications are not limited to criminal laws only, they cover civil laws, consumers protection, product reliability, medical integrity, environmental protection, national security etc.
Police and judiciary are now fully aware about forensic importance in any sort of crime scene management. But the urban public are now slowly geared to know more about forensics, thanks to TV channels. But the rural & tribal population are yet to be educated about the forensic importance of crime scene management. Taking advantage of the above situation in rural India, it is now feared that the crime base is shifting from urban areas to rural & tribal areas. These are now going to be the breeding grounds for all sorts of criminal & terrorist activities. Forensic planning has to be formulated for rural & tribal population before the crime takes deep root in these areas which are supposed to be fertile for anti social elements at present. Poor village folk is now a prey to crimes like counterfeit currency, adulterated food/water, fake bank accounts/insurance policies, pension accounts, terrorism, abduction, flesh trade, smuggling of narcotics etc.
Govt takes responsibility to provide the bare necessities of life in a mission mode so that in a given span of time, the goal can be achieved. We have a number of millennium missions for rural India like mission on food, shelter, health,
education, water, transport etc. But there is nothing in a mission mode to curb the ill effects of criminal activities even though all, in some way or other, are affected by criminals. It is seen that crime is the major factor which stands as a barrier against achieving our mission goals. Crime, of course , is no more localized, it is organized and globalised. Local laws also face a challenge from the present day crimes. They need reformation against hi - tech crimes. Forensics which is combination of science & law, can be one of the means to go for a crimeless society.
The present day society not only faces normal crimes but they also face challenges from terrorism. Terrorism may not be new phenomenon but nobody had given a serious thought as to how to effectively nip the threats in the bud. Forensic potentials must be harnessed to detect & nullify their plans. Traditional methods have proved to be a failure to handle them. The latest trend is towards preventive forensics. Forensics is now no more viewed as a tool for post incident analysis. It now helps the society as a preventive forensic tool. It is used as a pre-incident analyzing tool to detect & prevent crime before it takes place. This demands the forensic facilities to be brought to the door steps of common man.
The increased role of forensic technology now aims for quick & quality results through validated tools. Any error or late submission will help the criminal or terrorist in achieving his goal and the credibility of the forensic community will be at stake.
Now a days forensic intelligence gathering techniques are major tools in countering any sort of crime. Forensic data is a key tool for intelligence evaluation. Now terrorists are targeting e- commerce & e- Governance. The automation has not only made our life comfortable but a kick at times from cyber terrorists makes life a hell. The society cannot role back on e- commerce and e-governance but their smooth & safe functioning now depends on forensic capabilities. Similarly e-banking is also facing challenges from e- criminals. A number of established firms have collapsed due to this criminal activity. Individuals are not exceptions to this sort of crime. Daily thousands of innocent persons are turning victims of these e-banking offences. Rural population should be aware of “dos and don ’ts ”on e-banking. The present day hi - tech printing technology has made it possible to bring out fake currency, security papers, passport, visa, appointment letters, mark sheet,
certificates etc. It is very difficult even for an educated person to identify the present day fake/forged documents, leave aside the innocent village folk. Rural folk have to be educated on this front also.
Preventive forensics and forensic intelligence gathering tools are going to play a major role in redefining safety & security standards not only in e- governance but also in civil aviation, internet surveillance, critical infrastructure protection etc. Time is now ripe for law enforcement managers to insist with the State & central Govt. to fully support the rural & tribal forensic demands and needs. Public & judiciary now demand for forensic activism because the present day hi -tech crimes can only be tackled through forensics. Forensic activism among rural /tribal population will definitely act as a deterrent factor for further commission of crime. The present day rural & tribal population even don ’t know what forensic demands stand for. They are to be first educated on crime scene protection & its management & on forensic nursing to take forensic care of the victims of rape, murders, bride burning etc. They have no idea - why they are to protect the crime scene, how to protect, what to protect, whom to call, what to collect & to whom to refer. Similarly in cases of murders/suicides, the rural tribals have no education to handle the situation from forensic point of view. They even don ’t know what forensic clues are and how they can be preserved till forensic experts take charge of the situation. Thus rural awakening on forensic activism is the solution for better crime scene management.
These things can easily be tackled in two ways.
1. Practically all rural/tribal areas are now having video display units. Forensic teaching material particularly on crime scene protection & management can be supplied for regular video display. Even frequently asked question/answer sessions on forensics can also be arranged to make the learning more interesting & effective.
2. The locally available Home Guards and self help- groups can be trained on forensic nursing to forensically handle the victims of different types of crimes. Here NGOs can also play a vital role if they are made aware of the forensic education on crime scene management.
A number of rural/tribal development/investment schemes are in operation. Sufficient funds are made available by State Govt, Central Govt., & even by international agencies for development of rural/tribal India. Even after five decades of independence we have not been able to provide them with the basic urban amenities like clean drinking water, home for homeless, proper roads, schooling facilities and many more. Forensic auditing can play a vital role for proper utilization of funds right from the start till end i.e., policy formulation,
programming and evaluation and impact assessment studies. Forensic auditing is the targeting application of detailed audit procedures to identify if there is any illegal, unauthorized or un -procedural use of funds and assets and also to establish the identity of those responsible. It also evaluates the condition of internal controls and accounting and separate review of the potential for and existence of fradulant or illegal acts. Forensic auditing reports will provide valuable inputs to the govt. for redressing the existing programmes and reflect the flaws in the implementation of such developmental schemes. To make the best use of the developmental funds under different schemes, the introduction of forensic auditing will definitely be welcome by one & all. This will also bring real value to such rural/tribal
developmental activities. It will prove to be cross cutting instrument in bringing transparency in all the schemes which are to be implemented for development of rural India. Forensic auditing can keep an eye on the proper utilization of funds at the grass root level and enable the rural poor to improve the quality of their lives. Challenges from Emerging crimes and latest forensic trends It is now observed that terrorist and IT related crimes are the latest trends in crime scenario.
The modus operandi of the terrorist activities are ever changing but the scientific community has to anticipate them and devise appropriate technological strategies to detect them, negate their efforts or reduce the attrition drastically. The forensics will have to find effective field channels to nip the horror of terrorists activities in the bud itself. Thus the burden of present day forensics is to tune its efforts for success in pre-incident detection and even prevention.
Now- a - days suicide attacks by terrorist outfits demand innovative planning and rethinking on forensic research. Efforts to detect explosives from safe stand off distances, at the terrorist laboratories or at the raw material acquisition stage, has to get success to handle suicide bombers.
Again forensic interrogation and forensic psychology are now on priority list with investigating agencies dealing with terrorist cases. Now with narco - analysis and brain finger printing techniques, the information relating to crime stored in the brain can be revealed. The future plans of terrorists can be deciphered and action can be initiated to prevent occurrence of the crime. The co - conspirators and their whereabouts can also be ascertained. The reasons behind witnesses turning hostile can also be ascertained through these techniques.
IT has given completely new shades and dimensions to criminal profiles. Digital pornography, staganography, spywares, e- mail threats, e- transaction frauds etc. are of recent origin but have become serious threats to social peace & security. E - mail tracking tools along with e- mail data mining and filtering tools at ISP and server points have become essential for the investigating agencies. Staganographic detection and filtering tools are emerging to defeat the ill intentions of criminals. Cryptographic and password cracking tools are helping the security agencies to decipher the hidden information. For safety purposes the operational aspects of computers and cell phones and all sorts of access control systems are now going to be monitored by integrated biometric tools against impersonation and
unauthorized entry.
Now it is a fact that internet has become the biggest store house of knowledge – for good purposes and also for criminal purposes. It is not only a knowledge bank for children, adults or elders and but also an efficient and cost effective medium of audio/video communications. But these are now a matter of concern in respect of terrorist and anti - social activities. Now scientists are working to bring out preventive forensic tools against these dangerous internet audio/video
communication systems.
It is predicted that during 2006, internet will also be put to use for management of house hold articles like fridge, washing machine, pressure cooker, room cleaner, room heater etc. At the same time, it is feared that anti social elements will misuse the beneficial tools by releasing anti - activity softwares which can undo your commands without your knowledge and even can do harm to all your systems. Again same operational tools in their hands can be put to fire guns or even explode bombs remotely.
However the new internet version assures that it has incorporated security features for a safe internet usage in every walk of life whether it is e-transaction or audio/video communication or internet operational aspects of house hold articles. Dedicated internet facilities are coming soon in the field of medical tele- diagnostics, medical tele- surgeries and medical status on tele- monitoring systems. Now target oriented low frequency portable electromagnetic radiation tools have been developed which can remotely be used by criminals on our body parts and create havoc in respect of brain damage, heartache, kidney failure, lever damage, etc. But the criminal will leave no trace of his involvement through these criminal acts and these are going to be a big challenge to forensic experts. However, the scientists plan to use the same technique on suicide bombers. Through this technique they expect to control the mind of suicide bomber and make him to leave the place silently without making any effort to explode the bomb at the given target area. Now- a - days spywares are rampant on internet. These enter the computer systems through e- mail or free downloads and then scan and sniff the desired information to pass it on silently to the perpetrator who in turn can do harm with the sniffed or leaked information, specifically in respect of bank account numbers., I.D. number, social security number (in US) etc. This has become a nuisance for e-transactions where your bank account number and other information can be used to draw money. To overcome this sort of e- attacks or e- sniffing, anti - spywares have surfaced which will filter out such unauthorized concealed attachments.
Now with cell phone cloning technique, one can make phone calls at others expenses. Scientists are now serious to arrest this menace and prevent this sort of crime through punching an authorization code into the phone each time a charge is made. But recently introduced life time cell charging facility has thrown a challenge to the authorization code which is yet to pick up score in the commercial market. In jails, criminals talk with co - conspirators on cell phones, which is not permitted. Cell phone jammers in jails make the cell phones non -functional. This arrangement also puts the jail officers and visitors into inconvenience. To overcome this problem, now cost effective frequency selection wall paper screens (FSS) with metal grids have been designed in an intricate pattern to filter all radio signals and silence the cell phones in the jail through this cost affective technique. Again this arrangement can also act as cell phone detector (when not switched off) for jail authorities.
It is now feared that it may not be impossible for hi -tech criminals to have their own portable high powered electromagnetic/ microwave controlled tools. This will bring a dangerous turn of events in the society. Preventive forensic tools have to concentrate on techniques to detect and incapacitate such tools and also prevent from actual operation by anti social elements.
Now going for biotechnology, it is again feared that genetically modified food articles have critical genetic effects on human beings and animals. But they are being put into regular market as a criminal activity which can result long term genetic effects and defects on living beings. Now it is also seen that in the name of stem cell therapy, fake claims are there which have created psycho -fear in the minds of common man.
Now- a - days, it is seen that small radio isotope sources used for diagnostic purposes and for therapy in hospitals and for R&D purposes in universities and research organizations are pilferaged and are used in making dirty bombs which after explosion can have severe radiation effect on water resources, plants, animals and even on human beings.
Critical infrastructures like national tele communication facility, power grid control system, automated aviation safety system, automated railway safety system, satellite control station, defence preparedness centre, tele- medicine facilities, tele- transaction facilities etc. are also facing grunt of criminal assaults. Now it has become a routine affair that all national critical infrastructures are e- controlled. The employees or ex- employees are mostly seen to have involvement in IT - related crimes. They are now highly prone to terrorist threats. But scientists have succeeded in controlling critical infrastructures by self diagnostic tools which can act against any sort of intentional human interventions and set right the faults to save them from major disasters. These intelligent and dynamic security
management tools will not allow one man dictation to make the infrastructure to face any disaster and to fall prey to the crime.
It is seen that major IT related crimes are the brain child of employees or ex- employees who know “ins and outs ”of the whole system. Honesty and integrity of the employees speak success of any system. Unethical practices of the employees can lead to disasters. To prevent from such disasters, time is not far off when the employees will be subjected to lie- detection and brain fingerprint tests to prove their honest mental status. Now portable but powerful lie- detectors, fitted to sunglasses with real -time analytical facilities, are now commercially available. These will definitely act as an aid to investigation process.
Plastic explosives like RDX give out very little amount of vapours which make the vapour detecting tools ineffective. The criminals take advantage of the situation to smuggle RDX for criminal activities. The problem has now been tackled with introduction of specific chemical taggants having high vapour pressure in plastic explosives which can easily be detected by usual vapor detectors. Again if explosives are hidden in hermetically sealed containers, they can be detected and identified through a recently introduced special x- ray imaging software. The same is also now being introduced for scanning big containers which are responsible to smuggle huge quantity of plastic explosives. Again tera hetz- ray instrumentation with special image processing software can be used as a “see through ”tool against concrete walls or body covers.
Powerful night vision devices and video cameras with special softwares act as failure proof sentinels in border areas/restricted zones against unauthorized intrusion by terrorists/criminals.
It is claimed that confidential/top secret data in stand alone computers is considered to be safe against data pilferage. But now electromagnetic capturing devices can capture the data when the same is entered into or analyzed by a stand alone computer and then through a special dedicated software can be deciphered and reproduced even from 100 meters. The tool when in the hands of govt. secret agents can be used to compile data from suspect computers of criminals/terrorists and take steps to fail their ill intensions but when in the hands of criminals, it can be used to collect all govt./defence secret information which is actually not in the interest of the nation. But in such situations, scientists make use of electromagnetic shielding facilities to contain the data to the computer alone. Again there is one more criminal activity for stand alone computers i.e. theft of hard disc which is actually the store house of the whole data/information. But RFID embedded hard disc when removed from computer systems raises alarm and also helps in tracking down the criminal.
Firearms may be good for self defense but they are dangerous in the hands of criminals/terrorists. They forcefully or illegally take possession of the firearms and create terror. But now the new generation of firearms are with such hardwares and softwares that they can recognize the grip of the authorized person only and will refuse to fire for others. In some other preventive measures, the triggers are embedded with fingerprint sensors which will only allow the authorized fellow to fire. In some other cases, the trigger can only be activated with an IR sensor. It is often seen that the terrorists ambush police/para military and military personal and snatch their firearms and communication tools. The snatched firearms/communication systems if embedded with RFID chips can be tracked and seized. Now also e- controlled firearms have surfaced which will allow only authorized person to fire. In this situation, the snatched firearms can not be used to fire as per the will of the criminal.
Determining time, place and direction of firing is a big question mark for ballistic experts. But experiments have been successfully conducted by incorporating GPS receivers and other devices which record exact place, time and direction of firing from a firearm. This system has great relevance to forensic investigation and reconstruction of shooting incidents.
Now super caustic chemicals have surfaced which can if spread in atmosphere make the chip boards in digital tools inoperative and ineffective. Details are available for all on internet. If these fall in the hands of criminals, they can make every thing to come to stand still and create hell on earth. Detection of the chemicals & prevention aspects have become a challenge to forensic chemists. Computer designed chemicals can now play havoc in the hands of anti - social elements. Specially cultured bacteria can be used by criminals to corrode and degrade components of computer/electronic/communication systems. Acoustic beams and blinding laser tools can destroy sensors used for detecting explosives and narcotic drugs and can even cause nasty consequences to the victims. Scientists have devised a number of anti - material technological innovations like natural inhibitors and wireless stun devices which help in immobilizing the suspects at a safe distance. But these will not go to the extent of killing any individual.
Non - nuclear electromagnetic pulse generators can destroy or disable power system, electronic circuiting, communication and computer systems.
Portable high power microwave generator can also destroy/damage electronics, explode ammunition or disable vehicles run with electronic ignition or controls. Internal combustion engines can be disrupted through special chemical
compounds. These chemical compounds would temporarily contaminate fuel or change its viscosity to degrade engine function.
Recently introduced i -pod have become a device that should be looked for in the diverse crime scene of today. The cyber forensic practitioners of tomorrow will not only find the i -pod in their crime scenes, but also a diverse array of unique devices that have not been thought of yet. The cyber forensic community must be ready to accept this continued evolution of technology and respond with theories, tools, methods & practices to account for the ever challenging technology world. The so called non -lethal weapons developed for helping law enforcement agencies are now feared to have been smuggled into the domain of anti social elements and terrorists. These have now given a challenge to forensic technology and thus have accelerated the process of opting preventive forensics to minimize the misuse of tools by the criminals.
I have given few examples of challenges from modern crimes & latest forensic trends which clearly show that forensic activism in the crime ridden society is not far off and preventive forensics is going to play a major role in the criminal justice system. I wish Govt. will strengthen forensic technology in a mission mode for a crimeless rural and tribal population and to fight against the growing crime pattern which stands in the way of developmental activities in agriculture, medicine, economics, industry, communication etc.
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