- Visibility 263 Views
- Downloads 276 Downloads
- Permissions
- DOI 10.18231/j.ijfcm.v.12.i.3.14
-
CrossMark
- Citation
Exhumation: bridging doubt and justice – A case series on postmortem discoveries in Uttarakhand
Background: Exhumation is a legal process involving the unearthing of a buried body to ascertain the actual cause of death. In India, this practice is rare due to the predominance of cremation. This study exaines three forensic exhumation cases, emphasizing their significance in uncovering concealed homicides.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at Government Medical College, Haldwani, analyzing exhumation cases from May 2023 to May 2024. Postmortem findings were reviewed to identify discrepancies in reported causes of death.
Results: The case series includes three instances where exhumation provided crucial forensic insights. In the first case, a 45-year-old woman initially declared dead due to cardiac arrest was exhumed following a family complaint, revealing skull fractures and intracranial hemorrhage consistent with a head injury. The second case involved a 27-year-old woman allegedly murdered and buried by her husband; her child’s complaint led to exhumation, which confirmed head trauma and multiple injuries. The third case concerned a 14-year-old girl allegedly killed by her father and brother. Initially claimed to have died by hanging, exhumation revealed neck injuries indicative of throttling. The findings altered the cause-of-death determinations: cardiac arrest was reassessed as head injury and trauma in two cases, while hanging was reclassified as throttling in the third. Notably, all victims were female, differing from prior studies that showed a male predominance.
Conclusion: These cases underscore the critical role of exhumation in forensic investigations, particularly in revealing foul play. However, its effectiveness is hindered bysocial stigma, inadequate forensic training, and administrative challenges. Strengthening forensic protocols is essential to ensure justice in such cases.
References
- Aggrawal A. Exhumation. In: Textbook of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology. New Delhi: Arya Publishing Company; 2023. p. 158–9
- Narayan Reddy KS, Murty OP. Medicolegal autopsy. In: Essentials of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology. New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers; 2017.
- Lincoln Exhumation. World of Forensic Science [Internet]. 2005. Available from: http://www.encyclopedia.com. Accessed Sep 9, 2025
- Vij K. Medicolegal autopsy, exhumation, obscure autopsy, anaphylactic deaths, and artefacts. In: Textbook of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology: Principles & Practice. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 2014.
- Suresh V, Jyothi S, Cyriac AJ. Analysis of postmortem examination in exhumed cases done in and around Bangalore, India for 10 years: a retrospective study. Int J Med Toxicol Forensic Med. 2022;12(3):37680.
- Gitanjali D. Descriptive study of exhumations—a four-year study in a medical college in North Tamil Nadu, India. J Evol Med Dent Sci. 2018;7(23):2757–61.
- Mohan MC, Yadukul S, Kiran J. A retrospective study of exhumation cases done at Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College, Kolar, over a period of 3 years. Medico-Legal Update. 2017;17(2):70.
- Indian Kanoon. Exhumation and postmortem examination—Case Law [Internet]. Available from: https://indiankanoon.org/doc/25703482/. Accessed Mar 25, 2025.
How to Cite This Article
Vancouver
Khurana S, Dode PS, Hatwal P, Rawat V, . H. Exhumation: bridging doubt and justice – A case series on postmortem discoveries in Uttarakhand [Internet]. Indian J Forensic Community Med. 2025 [cited 2025 Oct 04];12(3):220-223. Available from: https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijfcm.v.12.i.3.14
APA
Khurana, S., Dode, P. S., Hatwal, P., Rawat, V., ., H. (2025). Exhumation: bridging doubt and justice – A case series on postmortem discoveries in Uttarakhand. Indian J Forensic Community Med, 12(3), 220-223. https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijfcm.v.12.i.3.14
MLA
Khurana, Sahil, Dode, Pramod Suryakantrao, Hatwal, Pooja, Rawat, Vivek, ., Harsh. "Exhumation: bridging doubt and justice – A case series on postmortem discoveries in Uttarakhand." Indian J Forensic Community Med, vol. 12, no. 3, 2025, pp. 220-223. https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijfcm.v.12.i.3.14
Chicago
Khurana, S., Dode, P. S., Hatwal, P., Rawat, V., ., H.. "Exhumation: bridging doubt and justice – A case series on postmortem discoveries in Uttarakhand." Indian J Forensic Community Med 12, no. 3 (2025): 220-223. https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijfcm.v.12.i.3.14