Analysis of homicidal deaths in and around Bastar region of Chhattisgarh.

FREEDOM FROM VIOLENCE, not necessarily proportional with development in some basic capabilities like nutrition, longevity and literacy which positively related to economic growth. So, dealing with violence in society is intrinsically a matter of public interest. In present study 79 cases of homicidal deaths due to different mechanical injuries was studied in two year period from 1/1/2009 to 31/12/2010. The incidence of homicidal death was 9.13% during this period. Males affected more in comparison to females. Majority of cases were fall in 21-40 yrs. of age comprising 50 cases (63.28%).Injuries by blunt weapons commonly observed in 30 cases (37.97%) which followed by injuries by sharp weapons 19 cases (24.05%). Totally 329 sharp injuries observed in comparison to 152 blunt injuries. Incidences were prevalent at dense forest area 26 cases (32.91%), in married persons 55 cases (69.62%), in between 6 pm to 12 midnight 24 cases (30.37%) and revenge was main motive 23 cases (29.11%).

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.

Cost of medical treatment triggering homicide on attempted suicide.

Modern science has opened lot of venues to save the precious lives. The media is responsible for wide spread acquaintance of these developments even to the economically down trodden. These highly advanced methods of intensive care are definitely very costly are beyond the reach of even a middle class family but this notion do not immediately restrict anybody from obtaining such kind of aids.

Medicolegal study of mechanical injuries in culpable homicides (excluding deaths due to rash and negligent act).

Trend of homicides by different means keeps on changing with the passage of time and development in different parts of the world. A study was conducted on 200 alleged cases of homicides (excluding deaths due to rash and negligent act). Different profiles from demographic and medicolegal aspects were evaluated. The incidence of homicidal deaths was observed as 12.03%, with male preponderant (82.5%) and the commonest age affected was 21 to 40 yrs (51.5%). Rural population was mainly affected. The blunt weapon (50.88%) was commonly used to inflict the injuries and 'abrasion' was the commonest manifestation (32.73%). The defence wounds were present in 36% cases. Head was the main seat of injury (13.65%). The cause of death in most cases was hemorrhage and shock (31.5%), followed by injury to brain (28.5%). Only 16% cases of these received hospital care. This necessitates the prompt medical care to be provided in the 'Golden Hour' to save valuable human life. Police patrolling for early detection of crime and shifting of injured to hospital/critical care center and provision of prompt ambulance service by state/ private hospital/ NGO's for medical care.

Homicidal fatal firearm injuries.

A retrospective study of homicidal fatal firearm injury cases brought for autopsy in the department of Forensic Medicine, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal from Imphal East and Imphal West districts during 1986 to 2003 was carried out. The findings are presented in this paper. 31.62% of the total numbers of the medico-legal autopsies were of homicidal fatal firearm injury. The male victims predominate the female victims i.e. 98% were male. 53.77% of the victims were civilians (28.29% were killed by unknowns, 21.23% by militant & 4.25 by securities). 50.56% were of the age group of 21 to 30 years, followed by the age group of 31 to 40 years (20.51%).

Sex related homicides and offenders: A medico-legalists view.

The advances in criminalistics and forensic psychiatry in these present times and the combined studies of workers of the specialties of Forensic Medicine and Psychiatry has led to renewed interest in investigating and documenting sex crimes. The term offender is used for a person who actively takes part in an offence or goes blatantly against the law. The term can be simultaneously / interchangeably used for a criminal. Sex related homicides include rape murders, serial murders, killings involving both of anal and oral sodomy and other acts of sexual perversions terminating in homicide. In this paper a brief summarization of sex related crimes, their psychodynamics and offender profile is detailed with comparative comments vis-à-vis the Indian and Western scenarios.

Study of pattern of injuries in homicidal firearm injury cases.

Invention of fire has brought about a turning point to Human civilisation, but, invention of the firearm has come as a curse to human civilisation. Firearm is fast becoming a major killing apparatus and taking away innumerable valuable human life day by day. This study was aimed to find out the pattern of injury in homicidal firearm injury cases of different motives and also to find out the most vulnerable portion of the body so as to minimise the loss of human life. In this study a total of 108 cases of homicidal firearm injury were studied. Extremist violence and encounters accounts for 81.5% of the cases and in 13 (12.0%) cases the motive behind the killings could not be determined. Most of the victims were males having bullet injuries in their chest (59 cases), caused by rifled firearm weapons, and died because of haemorrhage and shock.