title: A study of homicidal deaths in Delhi.
abstract: A meticulous post-mortem review was undertaken in the department of forensic medicine at the Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) to find out trends in homicides during the period 1992-1996. Standard procedures for autopsies and a review of the inquest papers were carried out. Out of 3,886 medico-legal autopsies performed in the department during the said period, only 232 cases (5.9%) were homicidal deaths. The commonest age group of the victims was 21-30 years (38%). Males were victimized three times more often than females. The incidence of crime was slightly more at night than in the daytime, though evenly distributed during the winter and summer seasons. In our series, sharp weapon injuries were the most common type (34.9%) followed by blunt force injuries (15.9%). Defence wounds were present in 35 cases (15%). Violent rage/quarrel was the motive in 61 cases (29%).
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi 110002, India. avneeshgupta@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Avneesh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Mukta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rani
authors.forename: Anil K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Mittal
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Dikshit
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001344:Autopsy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019548:Crime Victims; D005260:Female; D006708:Homicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D014947:Wounds and Injuries