1Assistant Professor, Forensic Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal
2P G Trainee, Forensic Medicine, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal
3Professor, Forensic Medicine, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal
*Corresponding author: Dr Th. Meera, Professor, Forensic Medicine, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal, Manipur-795004, E-mail: drmeerath@gmail.com
Online published on 8 January, 2016.
Firearm injuries are one of the most common causes of death all across the world, and different places have different incidence and pattern of firearm injuries.
The materials for this study comprised all firearm fatalities, presented to the mortuaries of the two medical colleges in Manipur, a small northeastern state of India, during the period of April 2010 to March 2014. A thorough analysis of the history and post-mortem findings of the firearm victims was carried out to find out the pattern of fatal firearm injuries and the findings were statistically analyzed.
Out of the total 2046 cases brought for autopsy, 12.95% were cases of firearm fatalities. Male victims outnumbered the female victims; the mean age being 34.05 years. The highest number of deaths occurred during late evening and night hours, and the nature of death was homicidal in 92.45% of cases. Single entry wound was observed in 30.94%, double entry wounds in 16.98% and multiple entry wounds in 52.08% of the cases. Most of the suicide cases had a contact or close or near range of fire.
It may be concluded that the state has a relatively higher number of firearm fatalities compared to other parts of the country and homicidal motive was common. The majority of the victims were males in the age group of 20 to 40 years, and multiple entrance wounds were common in the homicidal firearm deaths.
Manipur, firearm fatalities, homicide, suicide, range of fire
