Recording volatiles arrested in tissues and body fluids as a tool to reveal crimes against women

Background: Women were symbolized as goddess Shakti (Power) but with modernization our value devastated and now women are objectified on the basis of sexuality. In modern era crime against women including female infanticide, feticide, child-marriage, sexual harassment, rape, kidnapping, threats, intimidation, stalking, cyber stalking, pornography, verbal abuse, physical abuse, prostitution, trafficking, dowry related violence etc. are increasing with time globally. The lack of education, disturbed-patriarchal mindset, loopholes in law and order, low conviction rate are few reasons that give rise to crimes like these and affects lives of millions of women. The main aim of the study is addressing the challenges of detection of major constituent of house hold floor cleaner and cosmetics in biological matrices. The authors have undertaken forensic examination of cases where household substances have been used in violence against women and have observed that detection of such chemical is very challenging. Accordingly, in this paper we have reported two cases emphasizing crimes against women, one case of persistent stalking which leads to suicide and another case of domestic violence related to dowry where in there was an attempt to murder. In both the cases different household volatile substance were used to commit crime.

 

Methodology: Qualitative and quantitative analyses of substances were carried out by using latest techniques including Gas chromatography -Mass spectroscopy (GC-MS), Headspace-Gas chromatography -Mass spectroscopy (HS-GC-MS).

 

Results: Alpha-pinene, 3-carene,o-cymene, d-limonene, eucalyptol, gamma-terpinene, ethanol, toluene, p-xylene, fenchone, fenchol, camphene, isoborneol, acetone and methyl alcohol were main compounds which were found during analysis in various forensic exhibits of different cases examined.

 

Conclusion: With the above mentioned hyphenated chromatographic techniques, various toxic volatiles can be analyzed without the need for additional methods.