ANALYSIS OF HOMICIDAL DEATHS IN DISTRICT DI KHAN: AN AUTOPSY STUDY

Authors

  • Muhammad Humayun
  • Dilawar Khan
  • Fasee -uz- Zaman
  • Jahanzeb Khan
  • Omair Khan
  • Zahida Parveen
  • Wajid Humayun

Abstract

Background: One of the oldest crimes in human civilization is homicide which startedfrom murder of Abel by the hands of Cane. With the passage of time manner of homicidehave been changing. Study of pattern of homicide in any civil society is the first steptowards development of intervention to reduce the impact of homicidal crimes. This studywas conducted at the department of forensic medicine and toxicology Gomal MedicalCollege DI Khan to know the pattern of the homicides, taking it as the first step in theprevention of crime. Methods: The present study was conducted over two years 2007–08.The data collected includes all reported unnatural deaths from the urban and rural areas ofdistrict on which autopsies were conducted in the district headquarter teaching hospital DIKhan and department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Gomal Medical College DIKhan. Results: Homicidal deaths constituted 259/341 (76%) of all autopsies. Out of thesehomicides 59.07% were caused by the firearm. The most common firearm weapons werehigh velocity rifled weapons (AK-47, rifles and pistols). A total of 304 injuries were foundin various body regions giving an average of about two injuries per victim/person. Thehead, neck and face sustained the highest numbers of injuries 100, (32.90%) followed bychest 91 (29.93%) and abdomen 47 (15.4%); the extremities, buttock and genitalia togethersustained 65 (21.38 %) injuries. A part from firearm injuries unfortunately in our this studythe second highest cause of homicidal deaths was bomb blasts injuries either due to suicidebombers or remote control bombs. The numbers of deaths due to blast injuries were 82 forthe year 2007/08 out of total homicidal deaths and percentage was 32.66%. Conclusion:The vast majority of homicidal deaths in this area are caused by firearms like other bigcities of the province like Peshawar, which bring up issues related to possession of firearmsand change in cultural attitude towards the use of firearm, if a decrease in firearm relatedhomicides is desired.Keywords: Firearm, unnatural deaths, autopsies, suicide bombing

References

Wintemete CJ, Teret SP, Kraus JF, Wright MW. The choice of

firearm suicide. Am J Public Health 1989; 79:824–6.

Fateh A. Gunshot wounds in forensic pathology, 11th edition,

Phildelphia: J.B. Lippincott Co; 1973.p.79.

Statistics by country for Firearm Injury. URL:

http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/f/firearm_injury/stats-country.htm

Forest De, Ganesslen ER, Lee CH. Tool marks and firearm. In:

Forensic Sciences: An Introduction to criminalistics, 1st edition,

New York: McGraw Hill; 1983. p. 383–412

Mian AR, Majid A, Malik MM, Zaheer M, Goraya SU. Analysis

of unnatural Death in Rawalpindi during 1997. Pak Armed

Forces Med J 1999;49(1):68–70.

Bashir MZ, Saeed A, Khan D, Aslam M, Iqbal J, Ahmed M.

Pattern of homicidal deaths in Faisalabad. J Ayub Med Coll

Abbottabad 2004;16(2):1–3.

Mujahid M, Hassan Q, Arif M, Gandapur J, Shah H. Homicidal

deaths by firearms in Dera Ismail Khan: an autopsy study. Pak J

Med Res 2006;45(1):14–6.

Memon MU, Khalil ZH, Aziz K, Kaheri GQ, Khalil IR. Audit of

Cases Autopsied in the Mortuary of Khyber Medical College

Peshawar during the year 1999. Ann King Edward Med Coll

;7(3):190–3

Qadir G, Aziz K. The study of homicides in Larkana. Pakistan

Postgraduate Med J 2000;11(2):79–80

Bashir Z, Rana PA, Malik SA, Shaheen A. Pattern of Deaths due

to firearms in Lahore– A twelve-year study. Pakistan Postgrad

Med J 2000;11(3):109–14.

Kellermann Al, Rivara, FP, Rushforth NB, Banton JG, Reay DT,

Francisco JT et al. Gun ownership as a rish factor for homicide in

the home. N Engl J Med 1993;329(15):1084–91.

Bashir MZ, Malik AR, Rana PA, Malik SA, Shaheen MA,

Khokhar JI et al. Firearm Related Deaths in Lahore; A Need for

Efficient Emergency Services. Ann King Edward Med Coll Jun

;7(2):102–5.

Published

2009-03-01

Most read articles by the same author(s)

<< < 1 2 3 > >>