CID goes hi-tech to solve skeleton mystery

[1]

As the discovery of skeletons from Maoist-hit areas in West Midnapore district remains unsolved, the state's Crime Investigation Department has decided to go hi-tech in order to crack the mystery.

The CID would use hi-tech skull-face superimposition to help investigate the matter, a senior CID officer, who is in charge of the investigation, told PTI.

At least nine skeletons were recently dug out from different places in the Garbeta and Anandapur areas in West Midnapore district which have witnessed widespread clashes between Trinamool Congress and CPI(M) activists since 2000.

"The technique is a potent method of identification whereby the picture of a missing person will be superimposed on the picture of a skull with the help of a computer and the percentage of match derived will lead to the identification," the CID officer said.

"The superimposition process can give us a vital lead after which, if needed, we will go in for a DNA test," he said.

Of the nine skeletons discovered, seven were recovered half a kilometre away from former Left Front minister Sushanta Ghose's residence at Garbeta.

Trinamool Congress activists of the area alleged that the bones and skulls belonged to Trinamool activists who went missing in 2002.

Following the allegation, the police lodged an FIR against former CPI(M) minister Sushanta Ghosh, party district secretariat member Tarun Roy, district committee member Entaz Ali and 39 other CPI(M) party members.

The agency has already asked for photographs from family members of those who have been missing and old files of missing people have been sought from local police stations.

"We already had talks with a central forensic laboratory, which has the infrastructure and the expertise to do it," the senior CID official said.

He said previously the skull-face superimposition process was used only in some stray cases and this would be for the first time that it would be applied in a highly sensitive case.

Once proved successful, the technique would be applied in such cases in future, the officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.