DNA test of missing men’s kin hits hurdle in absence of kits
Samples sought by foreign ministry to restart efforts to trace the 39 men
AMRITSAR: Blood samples of family members of the Indians who are missing in Iraq could not be collected even on Sunday because the designated health centre in Amritsar does not have DNA test kits.
These samples have been requested by the external affairs ministry on an urgent basis to restart efforts to trace the missing people.
Nine families from Amritsar district visited the forensic department of Government Medical College, Amritsar, on Sunday. However, they were unable to give their blood samples as the college did not have proper equipment.
The college conducts DNA tests for nine districts of Majha and Doaba region.
College principal Dr Tejbir Singh said they are trying their best to arrange the kits. “We have approached kit manufacturers in Mohali and Hydrabad and they will be available in a day or two. Once we receive them, we will call the families with the help of respective sub-divisional magistrates,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Kuldeep, assistant professor in forensic department of the college, said, “On an average, we collect 7 DNA samples every month and kits for the same are usually available. However, to collect samples of the kin of missing Indians, we need these kits in bulk.”
He added, “As per government directions, we are supposed to collect samples of three members of each family. We have to collect two samples of each person. One sample will be preserved in the lab and the other will be sent to Iraq. Collecting the samples for preserving them in the lab is easy, but we need proper kits to send them to Iraq.”
Meanwhile, deputy commissioner of Amritsar, Kamaldeep Singh Sangha, assured that the administration will provide the kits to the health officials on Monday.
When asked how doctors in Gurdaspur district are able to collect these samples, Dr Kuldeep said they have collected only one sample from each person and it will be preserved at the local lab. “They too will require proper kit for samples to be sent to Iraq,” he said.
Meanwhile, sources said the external affairs ministry had sent the letter asking for the samples long back but the local authorities were informed about it only on Friday. “Collection of samples in such short notice is difficult,” said a college official.
The Centre, in collaboration with authorities in Iraq, has started a fresh search to trace the 39 Indians who were kidnapped by the Islamic State in Mosul, Iraq, three years back.
At the suggestion of some parliamentarians and Iraqi officials, the Centre is collecting DNA samples of the kin of the 39 missing Indians to determine their identity.
SOURCES SAID MINISTRY HAD SENT THE LETTER ASKING FOR THE SAMPLES LONG BACK BUT LOCAL AUTHORITIES WERE INFORMED ABOUT IT ONLY ON FRIDAY