Abstract

To evaluate patterns of ligature marks and manner of death in all hanging deaths. Material and Methods: The present prospective study carried out at the post mortem center in the department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Dr. V. M. Government Medical College, Solapur. wherein 316 cases of hanging out of total 2958 cases brought for medico legal autopsies were studied during the period from October2019-June2021. Results: Out of 316 cases of hanging maximum no of cases were of age group of 21-30 years. i.e. 85 cases (26.89%) followed by 31-40years. i.e. 79 cases (25%) cases. Male to female ratio was 3.93:1.Sari was the commonest type of ligature material used for hanging in 85(27%) of cases. All most all cases were suicidal in nature. In 27 (8.54%) cases ligature material was in situ. Typical hanging was observed in 265 (83.87%) cases in which position of knot was found behind the neck on occiput region, while in 51 (16.13%) cases it was atypical hanging in which position of knot present either on right or left side of neck. Fixed noose was present in 62 cases (19.62%) and running noose in 8 (2.53%) cases, where as it was not ascertained in 246 (77.89%) cases due to absence of ligature mark. Imprint of ligature material in the form of single mark was found in 282 (89.24%) cases, two imprints in 27 (8.54%) cases, while multiple marks of ligature material were noted in 7 (2.21%) cases. Ligature mark was complete in 11(3.48%) cases and incomplete or intermittent in 305 (96.51%) cases. Conclusion: bread and butter earning reproductive age group of 20 to 40 years was most vulnerable to suicidal tendency by means of Hanging due to financial problems, frustration of unsuccessful life, love and extra marital affairs, job insecurity, familial disharmony, etc. due to which they terminated their lives at very early stages. Presence or absence of circumstantial evidence in the form of suicide notes is mere an obsolete finding and it does not confer suicidal intent in related case. In all such cases autopsy surgeon had performed proper meticulous post mortem to rule out any foul play or suspicious death, putting an end to the rumours arising especially in minds of next of kin and also helping out police officials in doubtful case

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