Homicidal asphyxial deaths in South Delhi (1996–2005)

An increasing death rate as a result of violence constitutes a large group in medico legal autopsies. Specially, deaths due to asphyxia are one of the most important causes in violence deaths. During the 10-year period from January 1996 to December 2005, there were 198 homicidal asphyxial deaths autopsied by the Department of Forensic Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India which constituted 12.27% of all violent asphyxial deaths. Males outnumber females in total number of homicidal asphyxial deaths [Males 111 (56%): Females 87 (44%)]. The highest homicidal asphyxial deaths score fell into the age group 20–29 years (26.76%), followed by 30–39 years which contributed another 18.68%. The least common age group was 50–59 years, which contributed only 5.5% of cases. The most frequently used method was ligature strangulation (67.2%), followed by deaths due to smothering (11.6%), combined methods (10.6%), throttling (8.6%) and drowning (2%). Deaths were common in autumn and winter season (37.4%) followed by rainy season (30.3%) and spring and summer (30.3%).