Search

The identification of perpetrator involved in crime becomes difficult due to lack of evidence. Biological evidence plays an integral role in establishing link between survivor, suspect, and the scene of crime. The era of eye witness is almost diminished and DNA analysis is necessary for the identification of perpetrator. The loss or degradation of biological traces due to urinating, defecating, douching of genitals, showering and delay in medico-legal examination may yield negative results. The objective of study was to link DNA profiles generated from biological samples to associate suspect with survivor and other parameters affecting the results of DNA profiling. This present study was conducted in the Biology & Serology Division of Regional Forensic Science Laboratory, Northern Range, Dharamshala and DNA Division of State Forensic Science Laboratory, Himachal Pradesh, Junga, India. A total of 142 sexual assault cases received for examination during the year 2018 and 2019 were studied. Human spermatozoa were detected in 39 (27.46%) cases and genetic profiles were generated. Spermatozoa were detected even after taking bath and washing of clothes in 3 (2.11%) cases. 10 (7.04%) survivors were menstruating at the time of assault. Hymen was absent in 43 (30.28%) cases followed by old healed tags in 37 (26.06%), recent tears in 15 (10.56%), intact in 9 (6.34%) and partially ruptured in 4 (2.82%) cases. Out of 39 cases, DNA profile resulted as an inclusion of assailant in 27 (19.01%) cases and exclusion in 12 (8.45%) cases. The persistence of spermatozoa on vaginal swabs was found up to 4 days. Only 18 (12.68%) survivors underwent medico-legal examination on first day of assault. The findings clearly showed that early medico-legal examination is of paramount importance to avoid the potential loss of evidence, which directly affects the results of DNA profiling.

Background: Epilepsy has a complex etiology characterised by recurring seizures. Purpose: To study clinical profile of epilepsy patients with reference to type of epilepsy in northwest India. No previous Indian study has reported relative incidence of various types of seizures with reference to type of epilepsy. Methods: Data on 400 epilepsy patients (200 idiopathic and 200 symptomatic) were collected for their clinical characteristics. The division of epilepsy into idiopathic and symptomatic types was done on the basis of findings of EEG, CT scan and MRI tests. Results: The age of onset of seizures was less than 15 years in only one third of the total patients. The number of non-vegetarians was higher in SE (68.5%) than IE (58%). The male to female ratio was significantly higher (1.33:1 in IE and 1.47:1 in SE). No difference was seen for place of residence (urban vs. rural) of the epileptic families. The majority of patients (58.5% of symptomatic and 52.8% idiopathic) though reported no triggering factors, yet many of them, when questioned had held supernatural powers to be the cause of the disease. Sleep deprivation was reported as a major triggering factor by 28.5% of idiopathic epilepsy (IE) and 25% of symptomatic epilepsy (SE) patients. The incidence of mental retardation (1.25%) and behavioral disorders (7%) was found to be relatively low. Loss of memory was reported in 46% of IE and 43.5% of SE and poor scholastic performance in 23% of IE and 16.5% of SE. A positive history was recorded in 11% first-degree relatives and 4% second-degree relatives. Generalized seizures were more common in IE patients (67.5%), while partial seizures with and without secondary generalization (50.5%), and generalized seizures (49.5%) were equally common in SE. Conclusions: The study demonstrated differences only in the type of seizures between idiopathic and symptomatic epilepsies and not for other demographic, clinical and psycho-social traits. The males have higher risk of epilepsy than females. The epidemiological characteristics of epileptics show variations across populations and within population. doi : 10.5214/ans.0972.7531.1017404 Competing interests – None, Source of Funding – None Received Date : 12 August 2010 Revised Date: 23 September 2010 Accepted Date : 07 October 2010

The data on sociocultural, demographic, and psychosocial aspects and types of treatment strategies adopted by families of patients with epilepsy in northwestern India were collected by the interview schedule method from 400 patients (200 idiopathic and 200 symptomatic) at the outpatient department of the Neurology and Epilepsy Clinic of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India. Epilepsy was classified as idiopathic or symptomatic on the basis of clinical tests (EEG, CT scan, and MRI). It was observed that socioeconomic factors had no bearing on epilepsy in the present sample. Early onset, that is, before 20 years of age, reduced the chances of patients' finding a spouse among those who disclosed the disease information, thereby impacting the nuptial and fertility rates of patients with epilepsy. The present sample of patients was well informed about and sensitized to the efficacy of the modern system of medicine, as 80% of patients sought medical treatment on the very same day as or within a week of onset of seizures. The data were compatible with the framed hypothesis that well-being and safety of the patient would override the stigma burden factor, as 94% of the affected families made no attempt to hide the disease from their neighbors, friends, and colleagues, and teachers of the affected patients. Surprisingly, only 7.5% of the families admitted that they consulted a faith healer. Families did adopt some culturally prevalent methods to control involuntary movements during seizures. It can be concluded that trust in faith healers exists strongly as an undercurrent, but is not overtly admitted by the majority of patients. Some families concurrently visited modern hospitals and occult healers seeking a cure for the disease. The fear of having a child with epilepsy or other abnormalities discouraged married patients from becoming pregnant after developing epilepsy.

A mother and her teenage son living in a house in remote area were not seen around for a week. The father of the lady living in adjoining area became suspicious and visited her house. He smelled stench emanating from the locked house and immediately informed the police. On reaching the spot, the police opened the locked door by taking out conventional metallic loop from the wooden door plank and found dead body of lady in a pool of blood on the floor while that of her son on the double bed. The scene of occurrence was examined for vital clues by the forensic experts after a week. The forensic investigators tried to establish linkages between the victim, suspect, crime scene and individual items as with any form of evidence. The presence of palm prints on the wall, blood streaks and spatters on the wall and blood droplets/drip pattern on the iron box (trunk) lying adjacent to the wall helped in knowing etiology of crime and led to conclude that the assailant had suffered an injury on his/her hand. On the basis of evidences, the forensic team advised the police to make search for suspect (s) and the police succeeded in arresting stepdaughter of the deceased who had suffered an injury on the thumb of left hand.

A teenage boy went to see a wrestling bout in nearby village and disappeared mysteriously. On presumption of death under suspicious circumstances, the parents lodged a complaint and a murder case was registered in police station under section 302, 34 IPC. The incidence caused lot of unrest and protesting villagers blocked roads. After about two weeks, the skeletal remains of a human body were found on the bank of Pong Dam Lake in Himachal Pradesh. The police visited the spot and collected the skeletal remains for post-mortem examination. After about two weeks of death, a team of forensic experts from RFSL, Dharamshala visited and scientifically examined the spot and skeletal remains kept in the mortuary, collected and photographed the clue materials/physical evidences. The skeletal remains were found nibbled by wild animals indicating that the body got exposed after water level at the dam receded. The wild animals attacked and nibbled the remains and gnawing marks were seen on bones, metatarsal and heel region. In the present case, diatom analysis, study of skeletal remains, hair and faecal matter examination and DNA fingerprinting was done to ascertain the real cause of death, age, sex and identity of the person. For establishing identity and estimating the age and sex from the skeletal remains, forensic experts examined the skull, mandible and maxilla for dental eruption, pelvis and long bones on the basis of osteological, anthroposcopic, morphological and anatomical examination/assessment and the remains were found to be of Homo sapiens (Human) which were morphologically and anatomically consistent with male individual under 18 years of age. For examining the drowning case, water sample, in which possible drowning took place and femur bone sample was used for detection of diatoms. Acid digestion test was used and a correlation was established between diatoms detected in water and bone sample indicated ante-mortem drowning. In DNA fingerprinting blood samples of the parents matched with the DNA extracted from the bones which proved identity. After morphological and microscopic examinations the black hair embedded in the soil and brown hair with animal droppings collected from the spot revealed that black hair were human head hair and animal dropping was a mixture of human and animal hair probing that some wild animal have eaten the body and passed the droppings.