In a first for the city, a forensic odontologist from KEM Hospital, the only such expert in the state, has helped the city police secure conviction for a rapist by matching bite marks found on a 28-year-old woman from Powai.
In a first for the city, a forensic odontologist from KEM Hospital, the only such expert in the state, has helped the city police secure conviction for a rapist by matching bite marks found on a 28-year-old woman from Powai.
After the incident, the victim was not able to recollect the episode and with no other evidence available, the police had to rely on the forensic expert.
"This case was reported to us within 24 hours of the incident. She was taken to BYL Nair Hospital's forensic department who referred her to us. We successfully managed to get the impression of the accused's teeth and match it," said Dr Hemalata Pandey, the odontologist who performed the procedure.
In her two years with KEM's forensic department, Pandey has seen 12 bite mark cases out of which 11 were of sexual assault. "So far, I have analysed 27 bite mark cases out of which one was not related to sexual assault," said Pandey, who is one of a handful of forensic odontologists in the country.
This is Pandey's second victory in the state. Earlier this year, her efforts had helped police in Parbhani get life imprisonment for a 34-year-old rapist-murderer, who had left bite marks on his 14-year-old victim's body. The case was from Parbhani.
"One should get the bite marks analysed at the earliest. If the person is alive, normal human tissue starts healing," said Pandey.
In the past, forensic odontology was used to establish the guilt of all the accused in the December 2012 Delhi gang rape case. Delhi officials had to call the expert from Karnataka, as the Capital didn't have one at the time.
Dr Ashith Acharya, secretary of IAFO, said: "The age, sex and sometimes identification of a person can be done within minutes by a forensic dentist. In comparison, DNA tests takes a few days. Forensic odontology is still unorganised, and we don't have related recognised courses in India."
Delhi police had sought Dr Acharya's help with dental forensics while gatheriong evidence in the Delhi gang rape case.
Teeth are the last thing to be destroyed in the human body: While the rest of the body can be charred at 600 degrees, teeth can be destroyed at nothing less than 1,000 degrees.
Dr Harish Pathak, head of KEM's forensic medicine department, said, "In mass disasters or criminal cases, it is the teeth which assist in identification. Dr Pandey's inclusion in our department has strengthened our forensic team, specially when crime against women is a major concern of the state. I am happy that she is helping police improve crime detection and conviction rate. An important part of the work is examining bite marks. These can be applied by the attacker, or by the attacked, and in both cases are very valuable to the investigation."
What is forensic odontology?
Forensic odontology, or forensic dentistry, is a branch of forensic science, mostly an identification discipline, which deals with the handling and examination of any dental evidence needed in court. Forensic dentists are responsible for six kinds of practice:
Identifying human remains
Identification in mass fatalities
Assessment of bite mark injuries
Assessment of cases of abuse: bite marks are very common in these cases
Civil cases involving malpractice
Age estimation
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}