The post-mortem examination into the death of 33-year-old Twisha Sharma has concluded that her cause of death was ‘antemortem hanging by ligature”.
The conclusion comes amid the allegations of murder made by her family against her in-laws. Earlier reports also documented that there were multiple injuries across her body.
The autopsy report conducted by the AIIMS Bhopal‘s Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology said that Twisha was found hanging from a gymnastic ring rope on the terrace of her residence at 10. 26 pm on May 12.
The report identified double reddish patterned ligature marks" around the upper third of her neck, with the skin beneath described as dry, hard and “parchmentized."
The ligature mark was also incomplete at the back of the neck, a detail often examined in hanging cases.
They also recorded signs consistent with asphyxia, including facial congestion, bluish discolouration of the ears and fingernails. She also has petechial haemorrhages in the right eye,
The autopsy also showed that there were ante-mortem injuries in other parts of the body, including abrasion on the left side of the neck, bruise on the left upper arm, left forearm, right wrist and right index finger and 2cm x 2 cm bruises beneath the scalp in the left frontoparietal region.
The medical board concluded the cause of death as hanging, with the other injuries being simple ante-mortem blunt force injuries.
There were also no drugs found in her body, contradicting claims made by Twisha’s mother in Giribla Singh, who has claimed to the media that the deceased was on proscribed drugs and marijuana.
Twisha’s family has consistently alleged that their daughter was subject to mental torture and dowry harassment after her marriage.
Twisha’s family has also asked for a second post-mortem after they alleged that the first was incomplete.
They have now been asked to take back the body after it has been kept in the mortuary for a prolonged period.
The police said in a letter to the family, "Twisha's body has been kept in the mortuary for a prolonged period and is highly likely to decompose. Therefore, we request that you kindly make arrangements to collect the body."
"Right now, the body has been kept at -4 degrees Celsius at AIIMS Bhopal mortuary. To prevent the body from decomposing, it must be kept at -80 degrees Celsius. This facility is not available at AIIMS Bhopal," the police said in its letter to the family.
