'Gastric lavage samples' over 48 hours after the crime, and many other such mindless demands by the police have irked forensic surgeons from BYL Nair Medical College. The police usually seek such information while preparing a questionnaire seeking expert opinions in medico-legal cases. The forensic surgeons will now write to senior IPS officials urging them to provide skill development training for junior police officers.

Case that angered experts
Forensic experts want the training to include not posing questions which are practically impossible to answer, or add to the trauma of the survivor. A recent rape case from Waliv police station in Palghar district triggered the need for this. A senior forensic surgeon said, "On February 16, a constable from Waliv police station came to Nair Hospital with a questionnaire for a survivor (approximately 26-years-old), who was allegedly raped after her drink was spiked." The incident had happened on the night of February 13. The police had sent the survivor for a medical examination all the way to Nair Hospital in Mumbai Central, and demanded gastric lavage samples for forensic analysis.