For 32 years, this Indian expat shed light on crime scenes in UAE

Top Stories

Embracing the bright side: A guide on how to cultivate optimism

The power of solitude: Why you should go on a solo trip

How to get your kids to read: Essential tips for parents

Janardhanan Das Kunhimangalam with one of his research works.-Photo by Ashwani Kumar/Khaleej Times

Abu Dhabi - He vouches for the fact that Abu Dhabi Police are the best in the world.

By Ashwani Kumar

Published: Sat 24 Feb 2018, 5:00 PM

Last updated: Mon 26 Feb 2018, 8:25 AM

Forensic photography is the 'perfect evidence' from a crime scene to help police investigate cases. Janardhanan Das Kunhimangalam, forensic photographic technician with Abu Dhabi Police, has done this service for 32 years.
And this Saturday, the 56-year-old from south Indian state of Kerala bids goodbye to the Capital as a happy man. With Abu Dhabi Police, Janardhanan witnessed the three stages of technology transformation - black and white, colour and digital format.
"Crime scene photography is the very basis of an investigation. It is a thrilling job to help the investigating team with evidences," according to Janardhanan.
He said that each case threw new challenges. Among the many, Janardhanan said that the charred bodies from building fires were difficult for the investigating officer.

His journey

In 1981, his qualifications in photography helped him bag a job with a colour film company in Dubai. Later, he joined Kodak in Abu Dhabi. It was, however, a summer of 1986 that changed his life.
"Abu Dhabi Police purchased a photo printing machine from Kodak and they wanted a person to operate it. I was offered the job based on my experience."
And that is how Janardhanan became a forensic lab photographic technician.
"I did lot of studies and learned about forensics, face comparison, finger printing etc. I continued to upgrade my knowledge as with the changes happening in the field," he said, showing scores of course certificates from the last three decades.

Then and now

Janardhanan was among the team which saw the breakthrough transformation to colour and later into the digital format.
"I used to provide photographic support during the time of developing negatives in a dark room. It was like magic to develop a photo from a negative film. But it was time consuming. When the colour photo technology arrived, I started with Yashica Electro 35, Mamiya 120 Film Camera and now use Nikon D300. Today everything happens in matter of seconds," he added.
"I leave here as a proud Indian. It was an honour and a privilege to serve Abu Dhabi Police for this long."
He vouches for the fact that Abu Dhabi Police are the best in the world when it comes to tracking criminals and maintaining the law and order. "The Police acts in a speedy manner, right from tracing a finger print to nabbing that criminal. The technical advancement helps Abu Dhabi Police in keeping the Capital safe."
And corroborations had come last year with Abu Dhabi being ranked the safest in the world by Numbeo.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com

Abu Dhabi

More news from

arts

'It is important to reveal the full value and richness of Arab culture to the whole world': Famous music conductor Teodor Currentzis

The legendary Greek-Russian conductor Teodor Currentzis, who is all set to perform at the Dubai Opera next week, on music transcending cultural and language barriers

arts