Distinctive Features of Footprints of Eastern Indian Tribes — Forensic Aspects

Abstract

In almost every criminal investigation, it is necessary to establish whether a particular person or persons may or may have not been present at the scene of a crime. In this regard, the application of forensic science plays a vital role in the criminal investigation to establish the identity of the offender. Like a fingerprint, the footprint of every person is unique and can be used to identify a person. It can help to link the suspect to a crime scene and the victim. Every individual's print contains friction ridges and other individual characteristics that are unique to that person. The present study aims to identify, analyze, and illustrate the individual characteristics of footprints of the tribal population in Jhargram District, West Bengal, India from a forensic perspective in a sample of 120 adult tribal people participants consisting of 60 males and 60 females. These tribal people live in deep forest areas and most of the people walk barefoot day by day. The footprints were collected using a footprint ink slab and white paper. Various identification characteristics feature were identified and recorded during analyses of the collected footprint from different parts of the foot, like, the number of toes, number of humps, phalanges marks, corn, pits, cracks, Crease marks, etc.