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DOI: DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21088/ijfmp.0974.3383.11418.7

Abstract

Background: Killing of human being is one of the most serious of major crimes. Since very long time laws were framed by different judicial authority in a bid to prevent its further occurrence. In spite of all there has been a phenomenal rise in the incidence of homicide all over the world and also in India, perhaps due to a highly intensified struggle for survival in the face of industrialization and urbanization. This study was undertaken with and objective to study the pattern of Homicidal Deaths in Autopsies Conducted at Rural Tertiary care centre. Material and Methods: A Record based retrospective study was conducted at the Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College, Kolar from January 2015 to December 2017 for a period of three years. A total of 71 cases were included in the study period. Data was entered in to SPSS 17 statistical package and analyzed. Results: In the study 63.4% were males and 36.6% were females. Majority of subjects were in the age group 21 to 30 years (28.2%). Hard blunt weapon was commonly used in 78.9%. Majority were from rural area 60.6%. Most common finding was ligature mark in 22.5%. Most common cause of death was head injury in 23.9%. Conclusion: Most of the victims were in the middle age indicated social problems in the society as one of the reason. Strict enforcement of law on possession of dangerous weapons like sharp heavy cutting weapons/firearms should be made and punishment for such people should occur in the court of law. 

Keywords: Homicide; Autopsy; Blunt Force; Ligature Mark; Rural Tertiary Centre

Corresponding Author : Shreedhara K.C., Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Chamarajanagar Institute of Medical Sciences, Chamarajanagar, Yadapura, Karnataka 571313, India.