ABSTRACT
"Kite fights" are quite popular throughout Asia. Most kite variations, including the fighter kites of India, Pakistan, and Japan, are small, flat, roughly diamond-shaped kites composed of paper, with a tapered bamboo spine and a balanced bow. They are flown with the help of a "Manja," which is a thread made of cotton or nylon, and coated with fine glass powder using glue and other chemical adhesives to cut down opponent's kite string. The nylon "Manja" is particularly more dangerous, as it not only cuts down opponent's kite string but also causes bodily injuries to humans, which may be at times fatal. The pattern of injuries by Manja is underreported in literature. In the present case, the deceased had encountered fatal injuries by "Manja" while riding on his motorbike. This case discusses the pattern of injuries caused by Manja when the victims are in motion on their two-wheelers.
Subject(s)
Neck Injuries/etiology , Recreation , Wounds, Penetrating/etiology , Adult , Culture , Fatal Outcome , Humans , India , Male , Motorcycles , Neck Injuries/pathology , Shock, Hemorrhagic/etiology , Wounds, Penetrating/pathologyABSTRACT
The cause and manner of death in submersion cases are a routine challenge for forensic pathologists as they present considerable diagnostic difficulties. The present study was undertaken with a view to determine the characteristic pattern in bodies retrieved from water. From a total of 6779 medicolegal deaths reported at an Apex Medical Centre, Yeotmal, a rural district of Maharashtra over a 10-year study period, only 110 cases (1.6%) were decomposed and 243 cases (3.6%) were non-decomposed bodies retrieved from water with a rate of 0.6 decomposed body as compared with 1.4 non-decomposed bodies per 100,000 population per year. However, out of total 353 bodies retrieved from water, 31.2% were decomposed and 68.8% non-decomposed. Male predominance was seen in both groups with peak at 31-40 years. The cause and manner of death were ascertained as 89.9% and 82.7%, respectively, in decomposed bodies as compared with 100% and 96.3%, respectively, in non-decomposed bodies. Drowning was the commonest cause of death in both groups with suicide as the commonest manner of death in decomposed bodies in contrast to accidental in non-decomposed bodies. Excessive amount of pleural fluid, aquatic animal activity and mud/vegetation in lower respiratory tract was more commonly encountered in decomposed bodies. However, fine white froth was not seen in any of the cases in contrast to 81% non-decomposed bodies. Bodies were commonly recovered from wells in both groups. Most of the bodies were retrieved in the rainy season followed by summer and winter seasons in both groups.
Subject(s)
Immersion , Postmortem Changes , Accidents/mortality , Adolescent , Adult , Age Distribution , Aged , Drowning/mortality , Drowning/pathology , Female , Forensic Pathology , Homicide/statistics & numerical data , Humans , India , Male , Middle Aged , Respiratory System/pathology , Seasons , Sex Distribution , Suicide/statistics & numerical data , Young AdultABSTRACT
It has been estimated that five million snake bite cases occur worldwide every year, causing about 100,000 deaths. Snake bite is exclusively accidental in nature. Suicide by snake bite is very rare and homicidal snake bite is not reported. In the present case, a contract killer was hired, who used a poisonous snake to kill an elderly couple by way of direct snake bite. We believe this to be the first case reported where a snake was directly used for the murder of two victims through a contract killer.
