A woman doctor was stabbed to death by a school teacher while he was being treated at the Kottarakara taluk hospital in Kerala's Kollam district. The deceased is 25-year-old Vandana Das of Kaduthuruthy in Kottayam.
She was a house surgeon at the hospital. Vandana was a final year MBBS student at Kollam Azeezia Institute of Medical Sciences & Research. The incident happened at 4:30am on Wednesday. A source at the hospital said the accused, 42-year-old S. Sandeep—had stabbed the doctor six times. According to doctors who treated Das, she suffered multiple stab injuries. The wounds on her back and abdomen proved fatal as they caused severe internal injuries, they said.
Police had taken Sandeep into custody after he was involved in a brawl with his neighbours. As he was injured during the fight, police brought him to the hospital. When the doctor was dressing his wounds, Sandeep all of a sudden assaulted the doctor with the scissors that he grabbed hold of in the dressing room. Further on, after attacking five more persons, Sandeep vandalised the hospital. It is learnt that Sandeep was under treatment in a de-addiction centre. He also stabbed home guard Alex Kutty and sub inspector Manilal. He is currently under police custody.
Police officers and hospital staff are clueless about what provoked the accused. Members of the doctors' association claimed the accused was not handcuffed while being treated. A Supreme Court order stipulates a person can only be handcuffed when there is a clear and present risk of escape. Police are mandated to provide reasons before the trial court for handcuffing the accused, and if the magistrate gives permission, only then, can cops use handcuffs.
