Pedada Venkataramana Rao1, Rama Krishna Pedada2, Vadde Chandra Sekhar3
BACKGROUND
The objective of the study is to determine and classify the various types of dowry related deaths at Andhra Medical College Mortuary, Visakhapatnam city.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This is a retrospective study of all the dowry related deaths seen in the Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam city over a 5 year period (January 2011? December 2015) as recorded in the autopsy registers and postmortem reports of the department.
RESULTS
A total of 8831 autopsies were done during the period. One hundred and thirty three (133) cases received by the mortuary were dowry related deaths. Among them 44 cases were registered under 304B IPC, 84 cases under 498A 306IPC and 5 cases under 498A 302IPC. Majority of victims (77%) were aged between 18 to 30 years. Suicide was the commonest manner of death accounting for 87%. Hanging was commonest cause of death with 56 cases followed by burns (52 cases), poisoning (17 cases) and others (8 cases). Period of marital life, employment status and type of family was also ascertained.
CONCLUSION
This study gives preliminary data about dowry related deaths in Visakhapatnam and also help to formulate policies to reduce crimes against women.
