Panjab University Organises Workshop on Crime Scene Investigation

Chandigarh, September 29, 2026: Department of Forensic Science, Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh, organised a one-day workshop on "Crime Scene Investigation– Every Crime Scene Has a Story: From Clues to Evidence," under the Outreach Programme of the RUSA 2.0 Grant, bringing together more than 130 students and young researchers to build a deeper understanding of scientific crime-scene investigation, evidence handling and the practical application of forensic techniques.
The workshop featured expert sessions by Director, Forensic Services, Himachal Pradesh, Dr. Meenakshi Mahajan and Former Director, Forensic Science Laboratory, Mohali, Dr. Ashwani Kalia, who emphasised scientific objectivity, systematic crime-scene examination, evidence preservation and an unbroken chain of custody. Dr. Mahajan explained the linkage between the crime scene, victim and suspect, illustrating through case studies  including a homicide traced through microscopic fibre evidence and investigations into blast scenes  how small traces can provide significant investigative leads.
Dr. Kalia addressed field dynamics of crime-scene investigation, stressing perimeter security, contamination prevention and systematic photography, and explained structured search methodologies (strip/line, spiral and zone/sector methods).
He further detailed evidence preservation, packaging, labelling and chain-of-custody documentation, illustrated through cases involving ballistic trajectory reconstruction, weapon identification, post-blast debris examination, cheque forgery and restoration of obliterated firearm serial numbers.
Speaking on the significance of the Coordinator of the workshop, Department of Forensic Science, PU workshop, Prof. Vishal Sharma said that hands-on workshops of this nature are essential in bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world forensic practice, as they expose students and young researchers directly to field equipment, case-based reasoning and the rigour demanded by scientific crime-scene investigation.
He noted that such exposure not only strengthens the practical and analytical skills of budding forensic scientists but also cultivates the objectivity, precision and ethical responsibility essential to ensuring that evidence retains its evidentiary value from the crime scene to the courtroom. He added that continued engagement with experienced forensic practitioners through such outreach initiatives is vital to keeping academic training aligned with current investigative practices and technologies.
A major practical component was the live demonstration of the Forensic Kits & Mobile Forensic Unit, which familiarised participants with field-oriented forensic kits, including specialised kits for arson and fire investigation, narcotics detection, blood detection, bullet-hole detection, high-intensity light sources, and latent fingerprint development techniques— illustrated through selected case applications.
The workshop connected the principles of forensic science with field-level crime-scene practices, combining expert lectures, case-based learning and equipment demonstrations to highlight the importance of accuracy, evidence integrity and scientific methodology throughout the investigative process.