A Cross Sectional Autopsy based Study of Homicidal Deaths in Vijayapura, Karnataka

Abstract

Introduction: Homicide is heinous crime and it is one of the oldest crimes in human civilization. Homicidal pattern vary from country to country and from one region to another, and are influenced by many factors like commonly available weapons, methods of killing, etc. In the present day world violence is clearly recognized as a global public health problem. The total number of murders recorded all over India in 2010 was 33,335 and in 2011 were 34,305. Materials and Methods: 2 year autopsy based study conducted in Vijayapura. All homicidal cases brought to the department for medico legal autopsy and also the cases which were later registered as homicide were studied. Detailed information regarding the circumstances of crime was sought from the police, victim’s relatives and friends, visits to the scene of occurrence or deduced by the photographs of the scene of occurrence. The alleged weapons that were produced in the respective cases were examined and opined. Results: Among 67 cases, 43 (46.18%) were male and 24 (53.82%) were female. Most commonly affected victims were from 21 – 30 years age group. Large number of cases occurred in streets. The blunt injuries were most common 31(46.27%) to cause death.