Pattern of Fatal Injuries in Counter Terrorist Operations: An Innovative Analysis through Embalming Services

Mortal remains of the soldiers killed in counter-terrorist operations in Kashmir valley are sent to their home after undergoing mandatory embalming.

Injuries on the mortal remains of the soldiers killed in counter terrorist operations between Jan 1999 to Dec 2006 were analysed with respect to the agent, mode of injury, age, rank structure, body parts involved, seasonal variations and changing trends. Fatalities consequent to enemy action across line of control and fatalities of Kargil war were also analysed for comparison. Statistical analysis was done using chi square test for difference in proportions.

Over the study period, terrorist induced injuries accounted for 8.16 deaths per thousand troops deployed whereas enemy action from across the line of control accounted for 0.63 deaths per thousand. Terrorist induced fatalities peaked in 2001 and thereafter revealed a declining trend ('p' < 0.001). Fatalities due to enemy action across line of control declined to zero since 25 Nov 2003 consequent to effective ceasefire. Of the total fatalities, 89.5% were killed in action (KIA) while 10.5% died of their wounds after reaching the hospital. Fatality to total injured ratio peaked to 29% in 2001 and than stabilized to about 23%. Mean KIA to total casualty ratio was 21%. The rank structure of the fatalities was officers 8.6%, JCOs 7.3%, and Other Ranks 84.1%. Most of the soldiers died young, 51% being below 25 years of age. Out of the terrorist induced fatalities, 78.2% died of gunshot wounds and 21.5% by splinters and improvised explosive devices (IED). The ratio was reversed in enemy induced fatalities and in Kargil war. Fatalities peaked during June to November and declined in winters. Body region wise, 23.4% of all deaths were due to head injury, 8.4% due to neck and maxillofacial injury, 18.4% due to injury to lungs and 11% due to heart injury. Most frequent target of the fatal bullet was brain (25.4%), closely followed by lungs (22.5%) and heart (12.3%). When soldier died of splinters / IED, multiple body parts were injured in 57.5%, brain in 17.3%, face & neck in 3.5%, heart in 6.6%, lungs in 5.3%, abdomen in 3.5% and limbs in 5.8%. Fatality due to head and heart injury peaked in 2001, while multiple injuries peaked in 2000, declined in 2001 and peaked again in 2004 and 2005 ('p' < 0.001). In fatalities of Kargil war, chest injuries were less but multiple injuries were more.

Most of the fatalities were due to gunshot wounds selectively aimed at head, face, neck and thorax. Therefore, a lightweight flexible and effective bulletproof protection for this area will conserve manpower.