Human Ear and Earprints may help in forensic identification, finds PU research, Dr Kewal Krishan

Chandigarh, February 10, 2015: Human Ear and Earprints may help in forensic identification: finds PU Research, which is to be presented at a meeting of American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Orlando, USA.

This was stated by Dr Kewal Krishar, Assistant Professor Department of Anthropology, PU, Chandigarh, he said fingerprints, footprints, facial features and other characteristics of the human body have been assisting the investigating agencies/police to identify and catch the criminals since decades. Like fingerprints and footprints, the human ear is also unique to an individual.

The variability of the external human ear in individuals is enough to enable individualization in forensic examinations and may help to solve the question

whether a certain suspect is could be identified as being offender. This has been shown in a research conducted by Senior Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology, Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh, Dr Kewal Krishan, and his student Swati Thakur.

The study was conducted on 90 males and 87 females, where various features and anatomical structure of the ears were studied in detail. This research has been accepted by American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS). Dr Krishan will present the research in AAFS 67th Annual Scientific Meeting to be held in Orlando, Florida, USA from February 16 to 21. AAFS is the largest forum of forensic scientists all over the world and every year, more than 5500 forensic scientists attend this prestigious conference.

Although, the method of identification from ear and earprints has been successfully used in USA, Australia and many countries of Europe to identify the criminals; however, the Indian police and investigating agencies are not well aware about the uniqueness of the ear and its use in identification in criminal investigation.

In certain situations, where the dead body is recovered in dismembered or mutilated condition, the shape, size and individualistic features of his ears may be useful in identifying the deceased along with other identification characteristics of the human body, says the study.

In the recent past, it has also been shown that like the ear, the prints left by the human ear are also individualistic to a person; the earprints can be left by the criminals/burglars while listening at the doors or windows of the target house. In the present scenario when the crimes are recorded by CCTV cameras, an expert may be asked to identify the individual/suspect on the basis of CCTV footage where the ear of the suspect is clearly visible.

Dr Krishan is a renowned forensic anthropologist and published more than 100 papers in reputed journals of forensic sciences and anthropology. He is on the editorial panel of 40 journals of repute and on the reviewer panel of 50 journals. He has recently contributed invited chapters to the most coveted Encyclopaedia of Forensic Sciences published by Elsevier, USA.

(SK Vyas/Jalandhar)