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An average tutorial class in the Khed taluka area in Pune, Maharashtra began in the typical manner, just another tutorial class, but deteriorated into a ghastly sight on Monday where a class 10th student deliberately slit the throat of another boy from the same class right before their eyes. 

Due to the occurrence, there is now an unwarranted concern about the growing violence among younger generations. It occurred in a coaching center in Rajgurunagar, which is around 45 kilometers from Pune, at around nine in the morning. The suspect is a 15-year-old youngster who arrived late for class and sat behind a 16-year-old male, according to police reports. According to reports, the younger youngster pulled out a knife and stabbed the elder boy in the abdomen and throat.

According to witnesses, the victim started bleeding heavily, which caused panic. While phoning the emergency services, the school's teachers and pupils hurried to the scene to assist the casualty. After being taken to the closest hospital, the wounded kid passed away. Shortly after the incident, the criminals willingly turned themselves in to the Khed police station, according to police authorities. Additionally, the weapons that were used in the crime have been seized. 

The case has been registered according to section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The issue occurred due to murder. From initial probes, it seems that the murder could also amount to a case of revenge, which originated from a physical fight between the two juveniles three months ago. According to police officials, there was no direct adult intervention involved in the incident. However, it has not been ruled out by the police that it is not related to any of the gangs involving students, who have previously been involved in fights among minors at Mahatma Gandhi Vidyalaya schools.

“We are conducting a detailed investigation to ascertain the motive and background of the case. No angle—assuming that this relates to the involvement of the alleged persons with gangs—is ruled out yet,” Deputy Superintendent of Police Amol Mandve told Reuters news agency.

The incident raised the question of violence in school-going children in the Pune area. This comes hot on the heels of a similar incident that was reported in November when a Class 9 student allegedly attacked a girl over a school event-related dispute. The call for intervention in the form of counseling and more security at coaching centers is now being made by parents and child rights groups. 

Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the newly upgraded A-Class RFSL in Gorakhpur, the Chief Minister pointed out that the six-storey modern facility is constructed at ₹ 72.78 crore and is considered a major step in strengthening law enforcement.

The Chief Minister addressed the inauguration ceremony of the newly upgraded A-Class RFSL in Gorakhpur. He pointed out that the six-storey modern facility, which is built at a cost of ₹72.78 crore, forms part of the major initiatives in augmenting the law and order mechanism.

‘New Uttar Pradesh Has No Place for Crime’

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, "Those days are gone when victims wandered helplessly with a 'lath bore hawa me' attitude and criminals roamed freely. In keeping with its zero-tolerance policy, the state government has put in place a strong system of evidence collection and certification through modern forensic science labs, ensuring that no offender can now escape accountability.

Ensuring Speedy, Accurate Investigations with Hi-Tech Forensics

"Scientific investigation, strengthened by high-tech forensic facilities, has created a reliable mechanism where criminals cannot evade justice. Accurate, swift, and transparent investigations are now enabling victims to receive timely and hassle-free justice," said CM Yogi.

UP Ramps Up Forensic Lab Capacity Fast Since 2017

He said though the most populous state, UP had only four forensic labs till the year 2017. His government decided that there should be a forensic lab in every commissionerate.

From six, the number today stands at 12, while another six are presently on the cards. In no time, each commissionerate will have a lab to ensure complete forensic examination of evidence to establish its veracity and help stringent action against criminals.

Mobile forensic vans in every district

The Chief Minister also highlighted that, besides establishing such labs, the government has deployed two mobile forensic vans in each district to ensure quick evidence collection. This system enables a strong collection of evidences in hours, which helps in delivering justice to victims more efficiently. “Now, no criminal will be able to escape,” he said.

New Criminal Laws Toughen Forensic Standards

CM Yogi further said that before 2017, even when evidence was collected, the absence of adequate forensic facilities often allowed the criminals to go scot-free. But after the introduction of three new criminal laws-the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya Sanhita, 2023-pushed through last July under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, forensic labs have become all the more important. Doing forensic investigation has been made mandatory for crimes punishable with more than seven years' imprisonment. UP had done all the ground work for this transformation well in advance.

New Career Opportunities by Forensic Education

The Chief Minister said that forensic science labs will open up new job avenues for youth, too. To this end, UP State Institute of Forensic Science has been established in Lucknow. "It offers a certificate course for lab technicians, a diploma course for field evidence collectors, and a degree course for forensic experts.

State-of-the-Art Facilities for Modern Policing

It is a facility fitted with the latest in DNA diagnostics, AI-based systems, drone laboratories, and robotics labs. It can operate drones from nano models up to 40 kg.

Gorakhpur RFSL to increase precisions and transparency.

CM Yogi said that the upgraded Forensic Science Lab in Gorakhpur is fully equipped with the most modern facilities, which would increase the precision of investigations manifold. This center will mark the beginning of the game-changer for modern policing and ensure timely, accurate, and transparent investigations altogether.

Full-scale forensic capabilities will be used to support law enforcement.

He described the lab as part of the broader government’s zero-tolerance policy on crime. Its primary purpose is to conduct almost all forensic analyses: from ballistics tests down to narcotics, serology, cyber forensics, DNA profiling, and document analysis among a select few institutions.

These, he said, would significantly improve the speed and reliability of police work. It said the government targeted international standards of cyber forensic levels to help effectively combat high-tech crimes in the future.

UP Boosts Police Recruitment and Training

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that the state government accorded highest priority to strengthening the rule of law. In this regard, the state has recruited 2,19,000 police personnel in the last eight years, out of which 60,244 are in the fresh recruitment. "The number of police personnel recruited in UP during this period is more than the total police force of many states," he added.

The Chief Minister also spoke about the simultaneous enhancement of training capacity. In 2017, UP's total police training capacity was only 6,000. At that time, additional training facilities had to be rented when 30,000 new recruits were inducted. Today, the police training capacity in the state has increased by more than tenfold, and all recruits are being currently trained in government-run centers.

He said the government is upgrading the police facilities according to the needs of the department, adding that in many districts, one of the tallest buildings will be police barracks.

Commissionerate System and Safe City Upgrades

Chief Minister Yogi said, "The system of the Commissionerate in Uttar Pradesh was pending for around 50 years. For its implementation, our government showed readiness and in 2020 laid its foundation work. The Commissionerate model is now working in seven

Municipal Corporations and 'Noida and Greater Noida' have been developed as safe cities." He also informed that over 13 lakh CCTV cameras have been installed in major urban centers for increasing safety and security.

Emphasizing the role of CCTV monitoring, the Chief Minister explained that such a system ensures the identification of criminals in hours and leaves nothing hidden. “Today’s Uttar Pradesh does not tolerate crime. The state works with a commitment to security and respect for all,” he asserted.

Establishment of New PAC Battalions and Women's Forces

The CM remembered that previous governments had tried to dissolve the PAC battalion, but his government strengthened it. Along with SSF and SDRF, three women's PAC battalions have been formed - Veerangna Jhalkari Bai in Gorakhpur, Veerangna Uda Devi in Lucknow and Veerangna Avanti Bai Lodhi in Badaun.

He further informed that new PAC battalions have been established in five districts Balrampur, Jalaun, Mirzapur, Shamli, and Bijnor, and funds have been sanctioned to build modern police lines in ten districts. He said due to insecurity, the participation of women in the workforce was previously very low and stood below 13% before 2017. Today, with significant improvement in law and order, more than 35% of the women in the state are employed and able to work without fear or inconvenience. He said the government has brought police services, ambulances, fire, and cyber helpline on one platform of 112 emergency response system, and further, assistance and justice to the citizens will be provided with even greater ease.

Forensic anthropological analyses and reports may include a wide range of information that could provide clues to establish identifications, cause or manner of death determinations, taphonomic alterations, or any other circumstance involving decedents. This is the study of skeletonized remains in medico-legal settings.

However, there is yet no uniform standard, within forensic anthropology in the U.S., which can be applied consistently to case analysis and report writing independent of work environment, education, or case circumstance that does not compromise forensic anthropological expertise in courtroom testimony.

A new study by researchers from Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine found that while some areas of forensic anthropology seem to have a tacit agreement on standardized ways and citations, there are many areas in which forensic anthropologists are divided and not standardized. The researchers said such areas of division and disagreement-for instance, thoughts on objectivity among practitioners and education and training requirements-demonstrate the need for robust and enforceable standardization that applies to all forensic anthropologists.

"Now having evidence of dramatic opposing viewpoints-in some questions, nearly fifty-fifty splits-further pushes for an open discussion on this topic and the beginning of change. Further, because many forensic anthropologists are sole practitioners-32.4%-and consult on forensic anthropology cases without access to standard operating procedures or peer review, universal standards are important," says corresponding author Sean Tallman, Ph.D., associate professor of anatomy & neurobiology.

To examine if this lack of standardization is problematic, the researchers surveyed to explore reporting practices, followed standards, and personal experiences concerning overall practices resulting in case reports. The survey was distributed through an email list related to professional forensic anthropologists and the social media platform X to forensic anthropologists who have experience in creating case reports.

Of those surveyed, the majority, 71.3% felt standardization was necessary; however, there were concerns expressed that the varied venues in which forensic anthropologists are employed (academia, humanitarian settings, government labs and medical examiner/coroner offices) create an issue in standardized requirements. Currently, the "best practice" standards for forensic anthropology do not define which methods to utilize or if peer review should be performed or how.

The findings indicate that the overall lack of standardization in forensic anthropological practice might be due to the different educational pathways to become a forensic anthropologist, given that no specific training requirements are universally accepted and overseen by governing or credentialing bodies.

"Education and training are arguably two of the less standardized aspects of this field. Whereas it is not anticipated or expected that all individuals have the same qualifications - different experiences are available to different individuals - overall, there is a general lack of minimum expectations beyond osteology training. Consequently, forensic anthropologists practicing today are being asked to conduct types of analyses they have not previously experienced, to include post-mortem interval estimation and comparisons of ante-mortem and postmortem X-rays for positive identification," adds Tallman. These findings appear in the journal Forensic Sciences.

Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India has signed an MOU with the National Forensic Sciences University for further consolidating its technological, investigation, and forensic capabilities. The MOU was signed on 24th November 2025. NFSU, set up under the National Forensic Sciences University Act, 2020 is the country's premier institution in respect of forensic science education and research.

The agreement also aims at developing the competency of SEBI in select areas such as digital forensics, forensic accounting, cyber security, and data analytics. NFSU thus would design and deliver specialized and customized training programs for officers of SEBI with a view to enhance operational efficiency and improve regulatory oversight. The two institutions will jointly organize training sessions, seminars, conferences, and workshops on subjects of mutual interest, with faculty and officers from both sides participating.

The key deliverables of MoU include the following: Development of the latest forensic infrastructure for SEBI, including assistance in establishing state-of-the-art laboratories in domains such as cyber security, digital forensics, and allied sciences. The NFSU may also provide consultancy services to support SEBI in building modern investigative capabilities.

Further, the parties agreed to share knowledge and resources, subject to applicable laws, that can help in efficient discharge of respective functions. The move will help SEBI in handling cases of corporate fraud, fund diversion and other types of cases.

While India speeds towards scientific policing, investigation of cybercrimes, and evidence-based justice, Forensic Science has silently become one of the sought-after academic programs across universities. Slowly, this once-niche B. Sc. Forensic Science course is emerging among the top career options of students desiring an amalgamation of science, technology, law, and real investigation.

But what do students study over the three years? Why is this programme becoming a strategic asset for the universities and the nation?

Let's break it down year by year.

Year 1: The Science of Investigation Gets Underway

First-year courses introduce the student to the underlying principles of modern forensic work. Courses such as Introduction to Forensics, Biology & Anatomy, Chemistry, and Criminal Law establish a foundation in both scientific and legal literacy.

One such transformative subject is Crime Scene Investigation I. Students learn how to secure the crime scene, evidence collection, and photographic documentation, and to maintain the chain of custody-skills important in making sure no case falls apart in the courts due to mistakes in procedure or process.

What Year 1 does:

It shifts a student's mentality from that of learning in a text-book type manner to thinking investigationally. Learners begin to realize that a crime scene is a sort of puzzle, and every piece of evidence is a story waiting to be deciphered.

Year 2: The Skill-Building Stage

The second year involves more in-depth study of both the technical and analytical areas of forensic science. Courses such as Toxicology, Fingerprint & Document Analysis, and Forensic Physics introduce students to the science involved in dealing with poisons, handwriting verification, and physical evidence.

Such courses in Psychology and Criminology give insight not only into criminal behaviors and motives but also into patterns of investigations, enabling the student to develop an interdisciplinary lens through which profiling and questioning techniques can be strengthened.

Extensive laboratory sessions start to form a big part of the curriculum: handling real instruments by students, sample analysis, and simulation of forensic workflows.

What Year 2 does:

It sharpens scientific precision, attention to detail, and analytical abilities, which have to be part of every forensic professional.

Year 3: Specialisation and Industry Exposure

The final year prepares the students for the real world of crime detection and digital investigation.

The students were exposed to both traditional and emerging branches of the field, starting with Cyber Forensics-an up-and-coming field because of the ever-multiplying number of cybercrimes-to Ballistics and Forensic Medicine.

The third year constitutes mainly the compulsorily implemented Dissertation + Internship, where the students are attached to forensic labs, police departments, law firms, cyber cells, or corporate investigation teams.

Electives such as:

• DNA Forensics
• Cloud Forensics
• Forensic Audit
• Anthropology
• can allow students to personalize their career direction.

Additional modules on courtroom testimony, legal writing, and communication add value to equip them for effective evidence presentation in court, one of the most important skills in forensic work.

What Year 3 does:

It transforms students into job-ready professionals with scientific, legal, and digital investigative knowledge.

The Next Step: M.Sc. & Executive Programmes

Once undergraduate programs mature, universities can then seamlessly expand into:

M.Sc. Forensic Science, with specializations including digital forensics, toxicology, and ballistics, among others. Short-term executive programmes for police officers, cyber professionals and corporate risk teams

This forms a full academic ecosystem: UG → PG → professional training.

This vertical provides universities with enrolment stability in the long term and a strong industry network. Students will be able to open themselves up to careers in:

• Government forensic labs -FSL, CFSL
• Cybercrime units
• Corporate compliance
• Big 4 forensic audit roles

Criminal investigation agencies Financial fraud teams Research organisations 

Why this programme matters for India: 

At a time when India is fast adopting new criminal laws and forensic-first investigation requirements, the requirement of highly trained forensic professional manpower is especially high. Industry-linked training support coupled with appropriately designed B.Sc.–M.Sc. pipeline will help India produce graduates who can contribute to strengthening everything-from tracking cybercrime to DNA-based investigation. Forensic Science is not just another academic program but rather a national need.

One of the most striking findings is thus very straightforwardly stated in the paper: “The present study reports 100% lactating mothers having their breastmilk highly contaminated with uranium.”

Although the concentration varied from sample to sample, every single sample of breast milk showed detectable uranium (U-238), with values up to 5.25 g/l. 

The investigation mapped uranium levels district by district. In the data tables presented, Khagaria is shown to bear the highest average burden. In the decreasing order, the mean exposure to uranium [U238] contamination was found to be as follows: Khagaria > Samastipur > Begusarai > Katihar > Bhojpur > Nalanda.

The highest single peak uranium concentration of 5.25 g/L was recorded at Katihar.

Khagaria had the highest mean contamination level, with 4.035 g/L.

The lowest mean was recorded by Nalanda, at 2.354 g/L.

The spatial map for the study visually represents uranium spread across these districts and also points to an underlying hydrogeochemical pattern and environmental source.

INFANTS FACE HIGHER RISK THAN MOTHERS

In order to understand how uranium exposure may affect babies, the researchers estimated how much uranium infants can ingest through breast milk. Using a Monte Carlo simulation, a statistical technique that ran 10,000 iterations to predict possible risk scenarios, the analysis revealed that about 70% of the infants were at risk of developing non-cancer health effects if exposure continued.

The study also notes that "infants are highly vulnerable in comparison to their mothers" because of their still-developing organs, low body weight, and inability to excrete uranium as effectively. Because of this, small amounts of uranium can have a proportionally larger impact on infants.

The researchers examined not only possible kidney-related effects but also long-term cancer risks. 

While uranium is considered more for its radioactivity, its chemical toxicity is of more immediate concern—particularly for infants. The study details that infants have a higher absorption rate of heavy metals compared to adults due to low body weight and underdeveloped organs. The authors indicate multiple dangers:

Uranium exposure can present several potential effects on infant health, including "nephrotoxicity. long-term kidney damage." It may affect neurological development and lead to "cognitive and behavioral problems."

Uranium exposure may also "increase the risk of developing cancer later in life." It can cross both the blood-brain and placental barriers, posing a threat to normal brain development. Researchers also refer to a broader literature on how uranium can interfere with bone growth in early life, immune system development, and even motor skills.

According to the researchers: “Uranium binds to plasma proteins and preferentially accumulates in bones and kidneys. rather than in breast milk.”

Thus, while contamination of breastmilk is real, it may reflect recent exposure rather than the mother's long-term uranium burden. This hypothesis is supported by the fact that in this study, only a "weak positive association" was determined between levels and duration of residence, indicating that the contamination likely reflects recent daily intake-such as water and diet-rather than bioaccumulation over long periods of time.

SHOULD MOTHERS STOP BREASTFEEDING?

The authors say: “It is also recommended to emphasise that breastfeeding is the optimal method for infant nutrition, and its discontinuation should only occur based on clinical indication.” They note that breastmilk offers unmatched nutritional and immunological benefits, and the uranium levels detected, though of concern, do not justify the halt of breastfeeding without medical advice. 

Further research into uranium mobility in water, soil, and food chains Access to safer water, including filtration methods that can remove uranium (e.g., RO systems) The authors emphasize that: “There is also a need for biomonitoring of U238 in these regions at a broader level.” 

GROWING PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN 

In the last ten years, Bihar has already hit headlines for its arsenic, lead, and mercury contamination, with various studies - including some of the same research team - reporting heavy metal exposure in mothers and infants alike. This latest uranium study reinforces a familiar refrain: the environmental burden carried by Bihar's families, most of all in rural districts where groundwater is lifeline. The final conclusion of the study is measured but clear: While the levels of uranium present in the breast milk were not sufficient to present an immediate cancer risk, the researchers found that 70% of infants carry a risk of non-carcinogenic effects. This is because infants have a much lower body weight and developing kidneys, making them susceptible to toxicity even at concentrations that might be considered "safe" for adults. Speaking on the findings, Dr Ashok Sharma, Additional Professor, AIIMS Delhi said, "Though uranium exposure is associated with certain risks like disturbed neurological development and reduced IQ, breastfeeding should not be discontinued." He further explained, ".the uranium concentration in the breast milk sample is 5.25 micrograms per litre, which is well below the WHO permissible limit. The study still concludes that the actual impact of the infant's health is likely low, and most uranium absorbed by the mother is excreted primarily through the urine, not concentrated in the breast milk. Thus, breastfeeding is still recommended unless a clinical indication suggests otherwise."