Major Fire Ravages Hyderabad's Forensic Science Laboratory
A significant fire broke out at Hyderabad's Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) on Saturday morning, causing extensive damage to the facility that handles forensic evidence for most crimes in Telangana. The blaze gutted the entire first floor of the two-storey building, leading to the loss of computers and crucial document files.
Firefighting Efforts and Initial Assessments
The fire erupted at 10:15 am, with the first emergency call received at 10:21 am. Firefighters battled the flames for two hours before successfully extinguishing them. According to fire tending officials, the cause is believed to be "electrical in origin," potentially due to a short circuit. Fire Chief Vikram Singh Mann stated that all possible measures were taken to salvage as many files as possible, but the FSL has not yet clarified whether any critical evidence was destroyed in the incident.
Political Allegations and Calls for Inquiry
The incident has sparked a major political controversy, with Telangana's opposition party, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), alleging that the fire was deliberately set to destroy evidence in important cases. BRS specifically pointed to the 'cash for vote' case, in which current Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy was accused. BRS working president K T Rama Rao speculated on social media that the fire might be linked to voice recordings from that case and an attempt to cover up lack of evidence in other political matters. BRS spokesperson Sravan Dasoju has called for a judicial inquiry into the fire. As of now, the Congress party and the state government have not officially responded to these allegations.
Implications for Forensic Investigations
The Hyderabad FSL plays a vital role in processing forensic evidence for numerous criminal cases across Telangana, including high-profile investigations. The loss of documents and computer data could potentially impact ongoing legal proceedings, raising concerns about the integrity and continuity of forensic work in the region. Authorities are expected to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire and assess the full extent of the damage to evidence and infrastructure.
