New Delhi: A woman doctor was stabbed by an accused in brought for a medical checkup by Kerala Police. Kerala High Court took suo moto cognizance of the matter and Division Bench of Justices Devan Ramachandran and Kauser Edappagath slammed Kerala Police and state government for being unable to protect a doctor.
The High Court directed the State Police Chief to appear before it via online medium and to file a report regarding the death of the doctor on May 11. The Division Bench criticised the police and the government strongly and made a remark saying that the government should shut down the hospitals if they cannot protect doctors.
Murder of a woman doctor | Kerala High Court directed the State Police Chief to appear online before it and to file a report regarding the death of a woman doctor on Thursday, 11th May.
While taking up the matter as suo moto, Court criticised Kerala govt and police strongly.… pic.twitter.com/EsejgQFFrk
— ANI (@ANI) May 10, 2023
Dr. Vandana Das was stabbed by the accused at Kottarakkara Taluk Hospital and she succumbed to the injuries at another hospital.
Kerala witnessed a protest by medical students and professionals against the murder and lack of security for doctors. Medical students along with House Surgeons Association, protested over the murder in Thiruvananthapuram. Dr. Rahul Krishna of the House Surgeons Association said that they view the incident with agony and will have a meeting of the Kerala State Branch, joined by national leaders, to develop a strong action plan. Calling it intolerable, he added that doctors should be able to treat patients in a fearless atmosphere.
#WATCH | Kerala | Medical students, under the aegis of House Surgeons Association, protest over the murder of Dr Vandana Das, in Thiruvananthapuram.
She was stabbed by an accused, brought for a medical check-up by Police at Kottarakkara Taluk Hospital & died at another hospital. pic.twitter.com/9TeIe8jV7m
— ANI (@ANI) May 10, 2023
Kerala Police said that the accused in the case was not taken as a suspect but was in the hospital for treatment of his injury. The police added the accused is an alcoholic and he first stabbed a police constable. The accused attacked the doctor when she was dressing the wound and managed to escape.
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and CM Pinarayi Vijayan also visited the KIMS hospital where her body is kept.
