Quest Journals Journal of Medical and Dental Science Research Volume 7~ Issue 4 (2020) pp: 01-14 ISSN(Online) : 2394-076X ISSN (Print):2394-0751 www.questjournals.org *Corresponding Author: Dr. Debasis Bora 1 | Page Research Paper Development of Latent Finger Prints on Nonporous Surfaces Recovered from Water Samples of Abaya & Chamo Lakes, Forty Springs and Rain Water of Arba Minch Region Dr. Debasis Bora 1 and Dr. Nivedita Singh 2 1 Associate Professor, Division of Forensic Chemistry& Toxicology, Department of Chemistry, Arba Minch University, Ethiopia 2 Forensic Scientist-cum-Guest Lecturer, Police Training College, Uttar Pradesh Police, Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh Corresponding Author: Dr. Debasis Bora,Associate Professor, Division of Forensic Chemistry & Toxicology, Department of Chemistry, Arba Minch University, Ethiopia. ABSTRACT Fingerprints have a key role in criminal investigations and are the most commonly used form of evidence in world- wide. Criminal offenders have a fundamental goal not to leave any traces at the crime scene. Some may suppose that items recovered under water will have no forensic value, therefore, they try to destroy the traces by throwing items in water. These traces are subjected to the destructive environmental effects. This can represent a challenge for forensic experts investigating fingerprints. Evidences usually recovered from under water crime scenes have always been a challenge for the forensic researchers, as water has a destructive effect on the prints and considerably affects the evidential values. The aim of this study is to develop latent fingerprints from non-porous materials disposed in water samples of Forty Spring, Chamo lake, Abaya Lake and Rain Water. Fingerprints are one of the most important forms of physical evidence in criminal investigations and the most commonly used forensic evidence in world- wide. Fingerprint examination cases typically match or out-number all other forensic case work combined, with approximately ten times as many cases solved using fingerprint evidence compared toDNA. Keywords: Fingerprints, black powder, crime, water surface Received 18 June, 2020; Accepted 06 July, 2020 © the Author(S) 2020. Published With Open Access At www.Questjournals.Org I. INTRODUCTION In Ethiopia Criminal offenders have two basic goals, i.e., to successfully commit a criminal offence and to remain undetected, in order to avoid responsibility for their illicit conduct. They usually tread carefully and try to not leave any traces at the crime scene. These objects are difficult to detect and traces are subjected to destructive effects of the environment this can represent a difficulty for experts investigating fingermarks. Fingerprint Evidences one of the most reliable and accepted evidence in the court of law when fingerprints are exposed to different atmospheric conditions for example of fingerprints Evidences usually recovered from under water crime scenes have always been a challenge for the forensic researchers or Ethiopian forensic investigation bureaus. Water has a destructive Effect on the Prints and considerably affects the evidential values. Water bodies are considered to be the best place to dispose the evidences after commission of the crime. The evidences retrieved from these water bodies may contain latent fingerprints deposited on the weapon’s prior disposal in water bodies. The enhancement of the prints becomes a real challenge for the examiner since this impression tends to become more malleable. This study was conducted to determine whether it is possible to develop latent fingerprints from surfaces disposed in water. The study assumes that latent fingerprints can be developed from non-porous surfaces disposed in water by using suitable development techniques. This study also assumes that the Salinity of thewater may have an adverse effect on the quality of print developed. The study mainly focused on the use of Black Powder for development of latent finger prints on non-porous surfaces.