FORENSIC CHARACTERISTICS OF FIREARM INJURIES: WEAPON TYPE, RANGE OF FIRE AND WOUND PATTERNS IN MEDICO-LEGAL CASES FROM NORTH INDIA
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Keywords
Firearm injuries; Gunshot wounds; Forensic ballistics; Range of fire; Entry-exit wounds; Illegal firearms
Abstract
Firearm injuries pose complex challenges in forensic medicine because wound morphology, firing distance, and weapon type are crucial for reconstructing shooting events and determining the manner of injury. In low- and middle-income countries such as India, the widespread use of illegal, country-made and smooth-bore firearms results in variable and atypical wound patterns, complicating medico-legal interpretation.
Objectives: To analyze the forensic characteristics of firearm injuries, including weapon type, number of shots, wound patterns, and range of fire, in medico-legal cases presenting to a tertiary care centre in North India.
Methods: This was a prospective, observational medico-legal study conducted at S. N. Medical College and Hospital, Agra, from March 2016 to February 2017. A total of 124 firearm injury cases were included using universal sampling. All victims were examined using standard forensic protocols. Data collected included type of weapon, number of shots fired, entry and exit wounds, powder effects (blackening, tattooing, singeing), pellet or projectile dispersion, and associated injuries. The range of fire was classified as contact, close, distant, or undetermined based on wound morphology. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square goodness-of-fit tests.
Results: Shotguns (47.6%) and rifled firearms (45.2%) were the most commonly used weapons (p < 0.01). Single-shot injuries predominated (69.4%, p < 0.001), and single entry wounds were observed in 74.2% of cases (p < 0.001). Among cases with exit wounds, 78.5% had a single exit wound (p = 0.0025). Close-range firing was documented in 70.9% of cases (p < 0.001), while contact shots were rare (2.4%). These findings indicate a consistent pattern of deliberate, close-range interpersonal firearm violence.
Conclusion: Firearm injuries in North India show a distinct forensic signature characterized by smooth-bore and rifled weapons, predominantly single-shot wounds, and close-range firing, reflecting intentional violent assaults. Recognition of these patterns is essential for accurate medico-legal reconstruction and judicial decision-making.
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Dr. Manish Yadav
Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, World College of Medical Sciences and Research, Jhajjar, Haryana, India.
Dr. Vikas Verma
Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, World College of Medical Sciences and Research, Jhajjar, Haryana, India.
Dr. Shalney Razdan
Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, World College of Medical Sciences and Research, Jhajjar, Haryana, India.
Dr. Jatin Prajapati
Senior Resident, Department of Community Medicine, World College of Medical Sciences and Research, Jhajjar, Haryana, India ( ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-7298-4499 )
