Now, curiously, a report by the forensic odontologist with speciality interest in animal bites, states that the child was not “killed by a dog attack”.
Expertise sought
Parvez Ahmad Piran, BBMP’s Joint Director (Animal Husbandry), said as it was a suspicious death, he had sought the expertise of a forensic odontologist from the U.S. to ascertain the cause of the death.
“I was not satisfied with either the mahazar or post-mortem report. The officials seem to have been carried away by the claims made by the father, who was in an inebriated state. I suspected that the child may have been murdered or killed in an accident. The report confirmed my suspicion,” he said.
Dr. Piran said that Ken Cohrn, the forensic odontologist, had noted that there were a number of attributes that did not agree with the autopsy report. He had stated that lack of blood at the scene clearly indicates it was not the primary scene. “The scalp could not have been removed symmetrically and without bite marks. There is a lack of defensive wounds. Besides, there is absence of arched teeth marks on the soft tissue. With an attack of this severity, there would be some anterior teeth marks,” he has noted in his report.
‘Not consistent’
Dr. Piran said that Dr. Cohrn had also found that the amputation of the legs and loss of soft tissue was not consistent with dog attacks. “There may have been secondary predation; but I do not believe this boy was initially killed by a dog attack,” Dr. Cohrn has noted.
“The forensic report will be submitted to Mayor Sharadamma, Deputy Mayor S. Harish and Commissioner Siddaiah on Wednesday. I went to this length only to unravel the truth behind the child’s death,” said Dr. Piran.
Asked then what did kill the toddler, he said it was up to the police to find out.
Hiranmay Karlekar