Chandigarh February 11, 2019

Forensic podiatry: a great help in crime scene investigation- A research to be presented in American Academy of Forensic Sciences conference, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

            Forensic podiatry is the knowledge of the science of foot, footprints, gait and footwear to be used in crime scene investigation.

            Dr Kewal Krishan, Associate Professor and Chairperson, Department of Anthropology, Panjab University, Chandigarh will present the research in collaboration with Dr John DiMaggio- USA a renowned forensic podiatrist on ‘Forensic podiatry: a great help in crime scene investigation’ in 71^st Annual Scientific conference of American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) to be held in Baltimore, Maryland, USA from 18-23 February, 2019. This is the largest forum of forensic scientists all over the world and more than 5000 forensic scientists attend this conference every year.

            DNA profiling, fingerprints, facial characteristics, hair, lip prints, and other characteristics of the human body have been successfully used by the investigating agencies/police to identify and catch the criminals since decades. Like these features, human foot and footprints are also unique to an individual. The variability of the footprints in individuals is enough to enable individualization in forensic examinations. This has been shown in a series of investigations conducted by Dr Kewal Krishan and his collaborator from USA, Dr John DiMaggio- a renowned forensic podiatrist. This research has been accepted by American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS).

            In the last decade, many methods of identification from foot and footprints have been developed which are successfully used in USA, UK, Australia and many countries of Europe to identify the criminals; however, in India, the footprints science is still considered as a rudimentary science. Its use in the criminal investigation is further restricted due to its less awareness amongst investigation agencies in India. The footprints are available almost at every crime scene in a variety of forms such as bare footprints, socked footprints or footwear prints. However, the police and the investigating agencies should be aware that how to search, secure and lift the footprints from the crime scene.

            Dr Krishan is a renowned forensic anthropologist and published more than 180 papers in reputed journals of forensic sciences and anthropology. He has more than 3000 citations of his research work. He recently contributed invited chapters to the most coveted Encyclopedias of Forensic Sciences, Legal Medicine and ArchaeologicalSciences published by Elsevier and Wiley, USA.