CHENNAI: The initial announcement by the Indian Coast Guard that DNA tests would be performed on Wednesday on the remains of the three crew members whose bodies were recovered after 35 days from under the sea has turned out to be premature as certain procedures need to be followed which is taking time.
Indian Coast Guard officials initially indicated that DNA tests would be conducted on Wednesday to ascertain the identity of Deputy Commandant Vidyasagar, Co-pilot Deputy Commandant Subash Suresh and Navigator Deputy Commandant MK Soni. When contacted, sources in the State Forensic Department said the Coast Guard has to follow proper procedures for conducting the DNA test.
“It has to be ordered by the court or the district magistrate, following which the samples would be extracted from the bones of the deceased by the deputy director, DNA,” said an official from the forensics department. The Coast Guard has approached the Tamil Nadu DGP to help fast-track the process.
“I have talked to the DGP to fast-track the process and hopefully he will ask the district magistrate for permission to conduct the DNA test at the earliest,” said Inspector General, SP Sharma, Commander, Coast Guard (East).
“The family has to come from different parts of the country, and I hope the authorities understand the urgency,” said Sharma.
An official said that once they get an order from the court, the case will be given priority. “Currently, the deputy director, who is in-charge of DNA tests, is expected here by Friday. The DNA test requires lot of extraction processes,” said the official.
Subash Suresh’s (one of the three crew members who perished in the crash) relatives said today they have yet to hear from officials as to when they would be required to submits samples for conducting the DNA test.