Union minister of home affairs Amit Shah, in the presence of Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, marked a significant milestone in education by laying the foundation stone of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) Guwahati campus.
The ceremony, held at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra, witnessed the signing of an MoU between the Assam government and NFSU, symbolizing their commitment to collaboration and excellence.
The NFSU campus in Molong, Kamrup district, will be established on 50 acres of land provided free of cost by the Assam government. The Guwahati Campus, which is expected to cost approximately Rs. 300 crore, will offer a wide range of programs, including undergraduate, post-graduate, PhD, and post-doctoral courses across various disciplines in forensic sciences.
Expressing his joy and gratitude, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described the foundation stone ceremony as a momentous occasion for Assam. He emphasized the university’s potential to become a centre of excellence and pledged full support from the state government to ensure its success. Sarma also acknowledged union home minister Amit Shah for choosing Guwahati as the location for the university, which he believes will bring new advancements in forensic sciences for the betterment of society and expedite the criminal justice delivery system.
Highlighting the improvement in the security scenario in Assam over the past two years, Himanta Biswa Sarma noted a decrease in the number of cases registered across the state, pointing to enhanced investigation procedures and efficient charge sheet filing. He expressed confidence that the establishment of the National Forensic Sciences University will further boost the conviction rate and expedite the criminal justice process in the state.
The CM also shared statistics indicating a decline in the crime rate, with 384 cases per lakh citizens in 2021 reducing to 215 cases per lakh citizens in 2023.
Emphasizing Assam’s aspiration to become a knowledge hub, Sarma stated that the NFSU will play a crucial role in achieving this objective. He anticipated the creation of numerous job opportunities in Assam once the university becomes operational. With an anticipated campus capacity of over three thousand students, NFSU will cater not only to the academic needs of students from the North East but also address the educational requirements of students from ASEAN countries.
The Guwahati campus will also provide training to professionals in the fields of law enforcement, judiciary, and forensic sciences.
In conjunction with the ceremony, Amit Shah launched the ‘Assam Police Seva Setu,’ an interactive web portal enabling citizens to file e-FIRs for 26 services. He also unveiled a book titled ‘Analysis on Judicial Approach on Forensic Evidence,’ authored by NFSU vice chancellor JM Vyas.
The event was attended by union minister of state for petroleum and natural gas Rameshwar Teli, environment and forests minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, JM Vyas, and various other dignitaries, who collectively marked the beginning of a new era in forensic sciences and criminal justice in Assam.
