1Assistant Prof, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Sri Aurobindo Medical College and PG Institute, Indore, India
2Professor and Head, Department of Forensic Medicine, Government Medical College, Aurangabad
3Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, S Nijalingappa Medical College, Bagalkot, Karnataka
4Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Sri Aurobindo Medical College and PG Institute, Indore, India
5Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, Sapthagiri Institute of Medical Sciences & Research centre, Bangalore, India
Online published on 3 March, 2017.
The death of a member of the public whilst detained in police custody usually leads to intense media scrutiny and considerable public unease. Though, National Human Rights Commission of India has laid down strict guidelines to be followed after custodial deaths, these deaths show alarming trends, nationwide.
To address the issue, a retrospective, autopsy based study on custodial deaths was conducted at Aurangabad for duration of 10 years (1999–2008).
Among the 90 custodial deaths in the study, 89 were male, with maximum cases (33.3%) being from the age group of 31–40 years. Natural causes accounted for 62 (68.9%) deaths. Among the unnatural deaths (30%), suicides constituted 59.3% cases, homicides-25.9%, while 14.8% were accidental deaths. Pulmonary tuberculosis was the most common cause for natural death, followed by ischaemic heart disease. Poisoning was the leading method for suicide.
This study emphasizes on better implementation of medical services and tuberculosis control programme in prisons. Promoting suicidal awareness among custody staff may help in early detection of suicidal tendency in prisoners.
Custodial deaths, tuberculosis, suicide, poisoning, human rights
