Dr Vandana Das (23) was stabbed to death by an Upper Primary teacher in Kottarakkara Taluk Hospital in Kollam district, Kerala. The killer stabbed her five times while dressing his wounds. The culprit, S Sandeep, was brought to the hospital by police after he was taken custody in connection with an alleged brawl between him and the neighbours; he had sustained injuries allegedly in the clash. He stabbed the doctor with scissors he had picked up from the ‘dressing room’. Dr Vandana’s spinal cord and abdomen were fatally injured. Sandeep stabbed four others, including a home guard and a sub-inspector. Vandana was the only child of her parents.
There are reports that Sandeep was undergoing treatment in a de-addiction centre.
Hundreds of people, including medical students, protested in the hospital. Police found it difficult to take Sandeep to the jail.
The Union Minister of State for External Affairs & Parliamentary Affairs, V Muraleedharan alleged the Government apparatus was responsible for this cold-blooded murder. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State president K Surendran said that it is the failure of the home and health ministries.
Workers of the BJP, Bharatiya Mahila Morcha and Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha are staging strong protests in the hospital and before the Kerala Government Secretariat.
Protests of the doctors and medical students are going on in the area. Local BJP leaders said that State Health Minister Veena George and Finance Minister K N Balagopal, also the local MLA, should resign immediately.
The reported response of the Health Minister is unacceptable if it is true: “The inexperienced house surgeon was reportedly terrified and the assailant attacked her.” Medical students wonder if they must simultaneously go for karate or kung fu training.
Another BJP leader Sobha Surendran blamed the Health Minister for the unacceptable statement. She said if the Minister does have at least an iota of self-respect, she should resign immediately. Sobha asked about her experience besides her uncompromising loyalty to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Meanwhile, Kerala Congress (B) leader Ganesh Kumar MLA criticised the minister’s comments and questioned how a person could resist a drug addict’s attack.
Kerala Government Medical Officers Association (KGMOA) and Kerala Government House Surgeons’ have unleashed a 24-hour strike in the entire State. Kottarakkara Taluk Hospital has been closed for the time being. Post Graduate Doctors’ Association, MBBS students and House Surgeons Association are protesting before the secretariat in the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram.
A special sitting of the Kerala High Court expressed shock to hear the incident. It is a rare incident in the whole country. The High Court demanded State Police Chief’s immediate report before morning. He has been asked to get ready for an online meeting. Also, the court has asked the local magistrate to visit the hospital and report to save the CCTV visuals. The hospital superintendent is also held responsible.
High Court asked what the protocols are when bringing a culprit to the hospital. Five policemen were there; why should they continue in the force if they cannot give security? If the government cannot provide security, why can’t government close down the hospitals? Court asked if the police do not have guns with them. They are supposed to be trained! The court will hold the next sitting at 10 am tomorrow.
State Human Rights Commission has registered a case concerning the murder of Dr Vandana Das. District Police Chief is asked to submit a report in five days.
Additional Director General (ADG) of Police Ajithkumar told the media that the accused had called the police two times, and he was brought to the hospital not as an accused but as an injured man who complained that somebody attacked him.
But, another report says Sandeep called the police and said that his family people tried to kill him. But, when the Police arrived, he was alone; his mother was hospitalised somewhere, and his wife had been living separately from him for the last three years. The question remains, “How can police treat him as a mere ‘injured’ man while his behaviour was abnormal? “
Health workers are not having enough security in the state for the last few years. Last year some people attacked Kozhikode Medical College Hospital staff. In the same hospital, a woman, who underwent surgery there, was sexually attacked, and an attendee was arrested in this connection. Later, five employees were suspended for trying to influence the victim in favour of the accused. A report from Thrissur today suggests that a drunk accused created violent scenes in the hospital there.
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