Pattern of homicide: a retrospective study of central Delhi

Incidence of Homicide is rising worldwide and many factors influence homicide; behavior, family dispute, urbanization and lust for money, women and land.

To find out the magnitude and prevalence of homicide in Central District of Delhi.

This is a 5 years (1^st Jan 2006 to 31^st Dec. 2010) retrospective review of autopsies conducted in the department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi. The study encompasses 135 cases of homicide; categorized on the age, sex, method of homicide etc.

The homicide rate in central Delhi was 4.66/100,000 population/year. Total 2773 autopsies were conducted during five years period, out of total, 135 (4.86%) were homicidal deaths. Maximum homicide (n=60, 44.44%) were in the age group 21–30 years followed by 31–40 years and 11–20 contributed 17.03% and 16.29% respectively. Males outnumbered females by a ratio of 2:1. Most common method of homicide was assault with hard and blunt object (24.44%), followed by stab injury (23.70%). Burn, Gunshot injury and strangulation contributed 14.81%, 8.88% and 7.40% respectively.

Homicide was contributed 4.86% of all medico-legal deaths. Socioeconomic wellbeing, removal of poverty and enhanced employment opportunities and firm action by government, society and law enforcing agencies will help to prevent it.