Forensic podiatry: Tracing footprints of crime scene

Chandigarh, February 12

At the 71st annual scientific conference of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS), which will be held in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, from February 18 to February 23, Associate Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Anthropology, PU, Dr Kewal Krishan, will present a research paper, in collaboration with US-based Dr John DiMaggio who is a renowned forensic podiatrist.

Titled ‘Forensic podiatry: a great help in crime scene investigation’, the paper will be presented at the largest forum of forensic scientists world-over with more than 5,000 scientists attending the conference.

A series of investigations conducted by Dr Krishan and Dr John DiMaggio will show how DNA profiling, fingerprints, facial characteristics, hair, lip prints, and other characteristics of human body have been used by investigating agencies/police to identify and catch the criminals since decades. Like these, the variability of human footprints is enough to enable individualisation in forensic examinations.

In the last decade, several methods of identification — from foot to footprints — have been developed, which are successfully used in the US, UK, Australia and several countries of Europe to identify criminals; however, in India, the footprints science is still considered as rudimentary science. — TNS