Autopsy based retrospective study of hanging cases in Kolhapur district Maharashtra

Manoj B Patekar,Nikhil S Jagtap,D A Pawale

doi:10.18231/j.ijfcm.2020.017

Abstract

A retrospective study was conducted from 1st January 2018 to 31st December 2019 in RCSM Government Medical College and CPR Hospital, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India. A total of 3430 autopsies were carried out of which 443 (12.91%) cases were death due to hanging. The study revealed that, the natures of hanging in all the cases were suicide. Male constitute 76.67% and female (23.32%). In regards to age, 54.17% of the cases felt within 20 to 40 years. The most common reason for the hanging was family disputes (34.98%).Occupational status of victims, it was observed that (41.10%) were labour. The choice of ligature material was nylon rope (42.25%) followed by saree (19.82%), cotton dupatta (8.74%), bedsheet (11.37%) respectively.

Highlights

Violent asphyxial deaths are one of the most important cause for unnatural deaths occurring nowadays
Hanging is the form of violent mechanical asphyxial death which is caused by constriction of the neck, as a result of suspension of the body, where the constriction force is the weight of the body.1 to cause hanging, full suspension of the body is not always required
3 India’s National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) – which report official suicide rates based on police reports – estimated only 135,000 suicides in 2011. 4,5 Hanging is invariably suicidal

Summary

Introduction

Violent asphyxial deaths are one of the most important cause for unnatural deaths occurring nowadays. Hanging is the form of violent mechanical asphyxial death which is caused by constriction of the neck, as a result of suspension of the body, where the constriction force is the weight of the body. to cause hanging, full suspension of the body is not always required. L. van Hoof, hanging was the most common suicide method in primitive and pre-industrial societies. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that of the nearly 900,000 people who die from suicide globally every year, 170,000 are from India. India’s National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) – which report official suicide rates based on police reports – estimated only 135,000 suicides in 2011.

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