A 23-year-old doctor was stabbed to death on Wednesday at a taluk hospital in Kottarakkara area of Kollam district in Kerala by a police detainee who had brought him there for medical examination. The attack was so gruesome that the police personnel accompanying the youth were also injured.
According to reports, Sandeep, a school teacher under suspension, who was brought in by the police after he got into a fight with his family members, was brought to the hospital with a leg wound. During the treatment, he suddenly flared up and attacked all the people standing there with scissors and knife. He then turned towards Dr Vandana Das, who was treating him, and stabbed her several times. Kottarakkara police said the incident took place in the early hours of Wednesday and Das succumbed to his injuries a few hours later.
“It is a very unfortunate incident. He was not taken to the hospital as a suspect. The injured accused was taken to the hospital for treatment. The accused attacked the doctor when she was dressing the wound. The police constable was the first of all to escape. The doctor could not escape. The accused is a drunkard,” said ADGP (Law and Order) MR Ajit Kumar.
Doctors from both the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association (KGMOA) staged state-wide protests against the incident.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condoled the doctor’s death and said the incident was “shocking and extremely painful”. In a statement, Vijayan said, “Attack on health workers in the line of duty is unacceptable. The incident will be thoroughly investigated. The government will take strict action against attacks on doctors and health workers.” Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and CM Pinarayi Vijayan also visited KIMS Hospital where the mortal remains of Dr. Vandana Das have been kept.