Report by Puttur-origin doctor helped nail Delhi rapists
Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur (EP)
Puttur, Sep 13: The country has risen in jubilation over the Delhi court's verdict to award death sentence to the four persons convicted for the gruesome and rape and murder of 23-year-old physiotherapy student on December 16, 2012.
But few know that a dental specialist of Puttur origin had a vital role to play in nailing the convicts.
A report by Dr Ashith Acharya, currently the associate professor and head of the department at SDM College of Dental Sciences, Dharwad, was important in determining the role of the rapists in the crime.
Identification of the rapists, technical clues to confirm gang-rape, scientific evidence, fingerprints, the structure of rapists' teeth, DNA samples, witnesses and medical reports proved that the crime had taken place. Besides that, the mobile networks of the suspects have proved that the convicts were in the bus, said joint director of police in Delhi, Vivek Gogia speaking to the media.
The victim had bite wounds on her body. The confirmation that those were of the accused was the main factor in determining their culpability. Police had submitted their charge sheet to the court only after the confirmation. The tests were conducted by Dr Ashith Acharya. The house of the doctor’s grandfather is situated in Thumbya near Kaniyoor.
Dr Acharya studied dentistry at SDM College of Dental Sciences at Dharwad and conducted his dental research in Australia. The number of doctors who have undergone such training in India is only four. Dr Ashith is one among them.
Call by the Delhi police
Dr Ashith Acharya shared details of his involvement in the investigation as follows:
"As soon as the victim of the gang-rape was admitted to the hospital, the staff at Saftar Jung Hospital telephoned and asked me for information. I suggested them to take pictures of the wound and keep them, besides getting additional information on them.
"I conducted research on pictures brought by an SI from Delhi and the models of the accused persons' teeth. I took a sample of their teeth and prepared a model in plaster of Paris. The victim had bite wounds in five places on her body. I compared the details of the wounds with a few laboratory tests. I conducted more investigations with the help of a computer. I observed the marks matched with the teeth structures of two accused. I conducted investigation from six different angles before submitting my report.
"I got a call from Delhi police in the first week of January this year requesting me to conduct investigation in the case. I went to Delhi in May as an expert witness in the fast track court. Defense lawyers questioned me for one and a half hours. The judge also cleared his doubts. I felt happy when the news of their conviction came on Wednesday September 10. When I realized that my work was also involved in the release of the report confirming their conviction, I was overjoyed. The court having recognized the report on dental research for the sentence is a welcome sign. It is a red letter day for me," he said.
The principal of SDM dental college, Dr Srinath Thakur said, "Today is a day of great pride for us. Karnataka government having recognized us for investigation of this nature, making use of our services and facility that is not available in Delhi, is a matter of great pride for us."