Burnt wives – A circumstantial approach

Circumstantial aspects of fatal burnt married females in a series of cases, brought for Medicolegal autopsies during 13.6.87 to 3.2.89, in the mortuary of the department of Forensic Medicine, IMS, BHU, Varanasi, were studied. The largest number of burning incidents occurred in the kitchen, being more frequent during evening hours. Many of the homicidal accidental burnings were first noticed by husbands or in-laws. They were rescued in large number of cases either by in-laws, husbands or neighbours. In the majority of the cases, Medical Officer, who is duty bound, informed the incidents to the police. This paper uncovers many of the circumstantial aspects of the dowry deaths.