A study of homicidal deaths by mechanical injuries in Surat, Gujarat.

Violence has been always an integral part of the human civilization since its inception. Human beings have been progressively become expert in producing various type of weapons both for offensive and defensive purposes. This study was aimed to evaluate the mechanical injuries in homicidal cases of different motives and also to find out the most vulnerable portion of the body so as to minimize the loss of human life and common weapon used in such cases. The present study was carried out on 166 cases of homicidal deaths due to mechanical injuries during the year 2004 -05. Incidence of homicidal death due to mechanical injuries was averagely 83 cases per year. Mechanical injuries were quite common in homicidal deaths involving 130 males and 36 female victims. Majority of victims were in the age group of 21-40 years include 104 cases (62.65%). Stab injuries were commonly seen on the abdomen and chest due to sharp cutting weapons. Blunt force was the most commonly employed method in 80 cases (48.19%). Incidence of firearm was quite rare. Lungs were commonly involved internal organ. Male group was dominant over female group in defensive mechanism.

Medico legal diagnosis & pattern of injuries with sharp weapons.

Out of one hundred cases examined in GGS Medical College Faridkot during the period from July 2006 to September 2007 who sustained injuries with sharp weapons, majority (58%) were in the age group of 21-40 years, males (92%) with simple injuries (80%) and with light sharp weapons. Upper limbs were the parts of body with injuries in majority (47%) of cases followed by head (17%) and mixed type (14%).Nature of injury was homicidal in 60% cases followed by 34% cases with fabricated or strongly suspected fabricated injuries. This is a retrospective study to document pattern of injuries with medico-legal diagnosis to ascertain the type of injuries in the disbursement of justice.

Evaluation of mechanical injuries in homicidal deaths: (A retrospective study of 5 years).

Jamnagar region, Gujarat state, enjoys a relatively low incidence of homicide in India. The following study examined 120 cases, (67.04%) of homicides where death was produced by inflicting various mechanical injuries on the body, reported during the years 2000 to 2004. Incidence of homicidal deaths due to mechanical injuries was 24 cases per year. It formed about 2.89% of all the total medico legal autopsies conducted during the period. Mechanical injuries were quite common in homicidal deaths involving as many as 92 male and 27 female victims. Majority of the victims were in the age group of 21 to 40 years with 77 cases, (64.17%). Blunt force was the most commonly employed method seen in 58 cases, (48.33%). It was followed by sharp force seen in 38 cases, (31.67%) and sharp and blunt combine forces seen in 23 cases, (19.17%). Incidence of fire arm injuries was quite rare in the present study. Head injury was quite common in homicide. Maximum external injuries were seen on the head and mostly they were produced by hard, blunt and heavy weapons. Stab injuries were commonly seen on the chest and abdomen. In the present study 35 cases, (29.17%) showed presence of defence wounds. Defence wounds were commonly seen in the male victims.

Homicides by sharp weapons.

In the present society, which is gradually becoming over democratic it is natural that old values of sanctity of life changes and personality problems develop due to consequent stress of life. This ultimately results in violence. Killing of a human being is one of the most serious or major crimes. Since very long time, different judicial authority to prevent crime and its further occurrence framed laws. The laws were made according to the religious make up of the society but later the laws were according to the emperor’s own convenience. In spite of all these, there has been a phenomenal rise in the incidence of homicide all over the world and also in India. The study was conducted on 200 alleged cases of homicides. The incidence of homicidal deaths was observed as 13.03% with male preponderance and the commonest age affected was 21 to 40 yrs. Out of different weapons used to inflict the injuries on dead bodies of homicides, 31(10.88%) sharp cutting weapons were used. Incised wounds were present maximum 38(29.69%) on head and face. Defence wounds were present in 72(36%) of homicide deaths.