Citation

Verma RK, Srivastava PC, Sinha US, Kaul A. J. Ind. Acad. Forensic Med. 2015; 37(4): 405-409.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Indian Academy of Forensic Medicine)

DOI

10.5958/0974-0848.2015.00105.0

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Throughout most of India's history, women have been targeted as unimportant, burdensome, and disposable. This tragedy begins shortly after conception and continues until their death. A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out comprising 221 medico-legal cases of unnatural death of females within seven years of their marriage brought to the mortuary at S.R.N. Hospital, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh for autopsy during one year study period. Amongst 864 female victims, 467 females were married and 221 females died within seven years of their marriage. Maximum number of death (56.56%) occurred between 18-25 years of age and that too within first 3 years of marriage (57.47%). Accidental burn was most common cause of death and most common manner of death was suicide (47.98%) followed by accident (42.07%) and homicide (9.95%). Quarrel with husband/ in-laws and dowry demand by husband or his family members were two important reasons behind suicidal as well as homicidal deaths. 15.84% cases were labelled as Alleged Dowry Deaths. Comprehensive study was done revealing the need of various socio-cultural and legal measures to be taken to handle the grave results of this study.

Language: en

Keywords

Burn; Dowry death; Socio-cultural and legal measures; Within seven years of marriage