Soil differentiation of five districts of Himachal Pradesh using testate amoebae species composition

Soil plays important role as forensic evidence in crime scene investigations. Using soil we can establish link between victim, suspect and the crime scene. In this study, soil samples of five different districts of Himachal Pradesh were differentiated on the basis of testate amoebae composition. The effect of pH and soil texture on testate amoebae composition was also studied and seventeen species of testate amoebae having different genus were observed. Soil differentiation using testate amoebae can be directly related as an application in forensic science, especially when culprit tries to dispose the dead body in damp and marshy areas, or move the dead body from one place to another place to escape from the crime or law enforcement agencies.