Journal of Indian Academy of Forensic Medicine

Out of 824 medico legal cases presenting to Dept. of Forensic Medicine, MGH, Khammam, TS during one year (November 2014 to October 2015), 32 (n=32) hanging cases were reported and all of them were taken into the present study. It was observed that the most vulnerable age group was 21 to 30 years [75.00%] in both sexes, with male to female ratio being 3:1. Males, Married, Hindu by religion, from rural area accounted for 71.87%. 24[75.00%] belonged to low income group. Preferred place of hanging was indoor setting in 31[96.81%] cases. Financial problem was the main cause of committing suicidal hanging. Marital unhappiness, chronic non-curable illness, domestic violence were the other main causative factors of hanging. Hanging was complete in 24[75.00%] and was atypical in 22 [68.75%] cases. Ligature material was present in 31 cases, it was above the level of thyroid cartilage in 28[87.50%], the ligature mark was oblique in 31[96.87%], deep in 26[81.25%]. Rope was used as ligature material by 24[75.00%]. Salivary discharge was observed in 14[43.75%] cases. Protrusion of tongue was seen in 12[37.50%]. Asphyxial signs and congestion of organs, soft tissue petechial hemorrhage was seen in 2 [6.25%], intimal tears of carotid artery in 4[12.50%]cases, fracture of hyoid bone in 7[2187%] cases and no thyroid cartilage fracture were seen. The study objective was to find out the epidemiological findings, pattern of hanging and identifying appropriate reasons