Bangalore: An eminent forensic scientist has said only a systematic forensic
ballistics analysis, however costly, time consuming and elaborate, could bring out
the truth on the killing of Janata Dal-United leader H Nagappa in forest brigand's
Veerappan's custody.
"To prove beyond doubt wherefrom the cartridge cases and bullets came, a lot of
forensic ballistic exercises have to be done and these exercises alone can decide
the issue," Dr P Chandra Sekharan, who was involved in the Rajiv Gandhi
assassination probe, said.
Foremost the chain of custody of cartridge cases and bullets from the time of
recovery till they are handed over to the experts, are to be established foolproof,
he said in a statement.
He said the experts have to examine first whether the cartridge cases recovered are
recently fired ones or old ones. If they were established to be old ones, they have
no connection with the present case.
The examination of cartridges case and bullets themselves without seizing the
weapons would give an indication of the type of weapon used and would also decide
the number of weapons used, Sekharan, pro vice-chancellor, National Law University,
Jodhpur, added.
He said to fix which of the weapon or weapons fired these exhibits, it is necessary
to seize all the suspected weapons, after establishing who were in possession of
such weapons.
The cartridges, Sekharan said, would have several telltale marks such as firing pin
impressions, magazine marks, chamber marks, extraction and ejection marks.
Similarly, bullets would have striation marks.
"These marks are highly individualistic like finger prints and pinpoint the actual
fire-arm which had left these marks if only we test fire from the suspected weapons
and collect the fired cartridge cases and bullets and compare them with those
collected from the site in question," he said.
Without undertaking the forensic ballistic exercise, it is impossible to extend the
accusing finger against anybody, Sekharan, a Padma Bhushan awardee, said.
PTI
