P.G. Studies, Dept. of Forensic Medicine., J.J.M.M Medical College, Davangere, Karnataka, India.
Baton is a cylindrical stick made of wood or fiber material with its surface covered by either soft leather or rubber. It is legally used by police and law enforcement Personnel mainly during riot control. It is also used for extracting the information from the suspect during interrogation, but at a rational level. This is used by criminals indiscriminately either to teach a lesson or to punish an individual. In this case, where the criminals used Batons as weapons to torture the deceased in the form of ‘Battening’, alleging him to be police informant and causing of death.
Baton leaves less visible bruises externally, especially in dark skinned persons. It can cause death due to extensive soft tissue bleeding when used recklessly. In such situations it is important to do a thorough dissection of the body including the soft tissues and the major joints of the extremities to conclude the cause of death.
