Forensic test results' delay keeps two Russians in jail

Panaji, March 10 (IANS) The Russian consulate in Mumbai has come to the aid of two Russians who are languishing in jail for more than a year sans chargesheets because the police have been unable to analyse the drugs allegedly seized from them.

V. Korovel and Victor Kopolenko are lodged in the Central Jail in north Goa and were arrested last year in separate raids carried out by the anti-narcotics sleuths.

While Kopelenko was arrested for being in possession of nearly 250 gm of cocaine, Korovel was found in possession of a small quantity of synthetic drug MDMA, when they were arrested and searched by police.

"They are simply languishing in jail without trial. If they are innocent then their human rights should not be violated," Vikram Varma, the official representative of the Russian consulate in Mumbai, told reporters here Wednesday.

Pressing for an expedited forensic analysis of the alleged drugs found on them, Varma said the failure of the police to secure the test results could amount to a human rights violation.

"The Russian consulate has been following up the case with the police
constantly," Varma said.

In a letter to Chief Minister Digambar Kamat last year, the Russian consulate pressed for speedy trial of the Russian duo who had appealed for help.

"Uptill now, the police have not even provided us with the results of the chemical analysis of the supposed drugs possessed by them. Due to the lack of scientific support or other reasons, the police have been unable to conclude on these matters," the letter had said.

A senior police officer told IANS that the inordinate delay in producing the forensic analysis reports was due to the part of the Hyderabad-based Central Science Forensic Laboratory (CSFL).

"These samples from Goa sent for analysis there (CSFL) are in queue. We will be able to secure the analysis only when we get it from their end," the officer said.