Abstract:
Ligature marks are those marks made by an item of cord, rope, silk or some such material that has been used for the purposes of strangulation. The appearance at autopsy naturally depends on the nature and texture of the ligature. When there is a pronounced pattern, such as a weave of a cord, or the plaiting of a thong, the same pattern may be imprinted in to the skin1. Articles used as ligature may include rope, dhoti, saree, chunni, turban, bed sheet, cord of paijamas or dressing gowns, belts, brace, neck tie and towel etc2. Sometimes it is very difficult to find out whether ligature mark is antemortem or post mortem.
