Forensic Study of Child Sexual Abuse in Northern Range of Himachal Pradesh

Volume 1 - Issue 3

Surender Kumar Pal¹*, Ajay Rana², Arun Sharma³ and Ajay Sehgal⁴

Received: March 28, 2018;   Published: April 03, 2018

DOI: 10.32474/PRJFGS.2018.01.000112

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Abstract

Background: The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 had made a significant contribution for trickling the cases against children and adolescents. The aim of the present study is to determine the socio-demographic profile of sexually assaulted children and their medico legal aspects.

Material and Methods: The study was conducted on 181 cases of sexual assaults registered under POCSO Act, 2012 received for examination at Regional Forensic Science Laboratory, Northern Range, Dharamshala, and Himachal Pradesh, India during the year 2013-2016. The details pertaining to socio-demographic factors (sex, age, religion, and profession), season, place of incidence, relationship with accused, time interval between alleged incidence and medical examinations, condition of hymen and results of exhibits examined in forensic lab were noted in a self-designed per forma.

Results: The cases of female sexual assaults (95.58%) outnumbered the male sexual assaults (2.76%). 90.05% victims were Hindus followed by Muslims (6.62%), Buddhists/Tibetans (1.10%), and Christians (0.55%). The most commonly sexual assaults were reported in the month of winter (31.49%) followed by monsoon (29.83%), summer (24.30%) and autumn (14.36%). The common site of offence was the house of accused (38.67%) followed by house of victim (17.12%).This study revealed that most vulnerable age group was 16-18 years (48.06%). 71.27%of the alleged sexual assault victims were students. Most commonly sexual crimes were committed by the person familiar to the victim (85.63%).97.23% victims were unmarried and1.10% were married. Maximum numbers of victims were medico-legally examined on second day of incidence (27.62%). Hymen was found intact in 12.15% female victims and torn/ruptured with old tears in 22.09% cases. Recent tears were noticed in 43.09% female victims. Spermatozoa were detected in 30.93% cases on undergarments, pubic hair, vaginal swabs, vaginal smear slides, clothes and bed sheets.

Conclusion: Most commonly sexual assaults are committed by the familiar persons and the place of incidence was either house of the accused or victim. The most vulnerable age group was 16-18 years. Delay in medico legal examination and delay in reporting caused loss of biological evidences.

Keywords: Sexual Assault; Female Victims; Male Victims; Assailants; Hymen; Medico-Legal Examination

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