Two of the five convicted in the rape and murder of a paramedical student in New Delhi on December 16, 2012, were trapped by the position of their teeth and the bite marks on the victim.
Among other evidence, dental records provided a vital match.
“The dental models of two of the accused matched the bite marks on the victim’s body,” Dr Ashith Acharya, head of the department of forensic odontology at the Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College of Dental Sciences and Hospital at Sattur, near Dharwad, told Express.
Dr Acharya’s involvement in the investigation, which had the entire nation staging protests, began in the first week of January, 2013. A team of officers from the Delhi Police came to Dharwad along with the photographs of the bite marks on the victim’s body and also dental models of five accused. The department which Dr Acharya heads is the only such in the entire country.
Dr Acharya, an alumnus of this institute, heads this department as professor, after completing his advanced studies in Australia.
“I have come across hundreds of cases in the past. But I was shocked to see the photographs of bite marks on the victim’s body,” he said.
“The deep marks on the victim’s body indicates how badly she was attacked. Tear marks were also found on her skin. I was totally aware of the sensitivity of the case, but it never came in the way of clinical investigation. I am fully satisfied that we have done investigation to best of our ability. We never go by any emotions while dealing with such a sensitive case,” Dr Acharya added.
Dr Acharya said it took him five days to prepare a detailed report on the findings and the same were submitted to Delhi Police on January 7.