Lip Prints as Forensic Evidence : Cheiloscopic Comparison of the Tibetan Refugees in Mundgod and the Population of Belgaum, India

As far as individual identification is considered, fingerprint, DNA and post-mortem reports are the commonly used tools. When these are not available, lesser known techniques of palatoscopy and Cheiloscopy (study of Lip prints) can throw more light on individual identification. The present study was conducted to compare the Lip prints of the Tibetan population from Mundgod and the general population of Belgaum and to find out the quadrant wise and gender-wise predilections. About 1500 Lip impressions were collected from both the populations. The impressions were visualized using a magnifying lens and analyzed by Suzuki and Tsuchihashi's classification.The vertical pattern was more common in males in the first and second quadrants. Branching pattern was more in the Tibetans than in the general population. X- shaped pattern was more common in Tibetan males. Reticular pattern occurred more frequently in females. Lip prints have a gender-wise and quadrant-wise predilection. The two races compared in this study were found to have differences differences in the distribution of lip prints. Lip prints are unique and behold a potential in individual identification.