Trends of homicide in and around Jamnagar region of Gujarat, India - A retrospective study of 5 years

The following retrospective study examined homicidal deaths in and around Jamnagar region, Gujarat state in India for a five year period from 2000 through 2004. During this period there were 179 cases of homicides, 113 male and 65 female victims with 1 case whose sex was not known. The incidence of homicidal deaths was 4.13% of the total medico legal autopsies conducted during the period. Average incidence of homicides was about 33.8 cases per year. The mean average homicide rate was calculated at 1.4 per 1, 00, 000 populations. The majority of the victims were farmers, laborers and house wives. Commonly homicide was committed by using hard, blunt and heavy weapons. However, burns and asphyxia were very common in female victims. Family dispute, dispute for money and personal dispute were the commonly encountered motives in homicide. Alcohol consumption and sexual offences were very lean.