Murder of Vandana Das
Date10 May 2023
LocationKottarakkara, Kerala, India
DeathsVandana Das
AccusedS Sandeep

The murder of Vandana Das, a medical doctor, took place in Kottarakkara, Kerala, on 10 May 2023.[1][2] She was stabbed to death while on hospital duty by an addict suffering from withdrawal paranoia who was brought to the Kottarakkara Taluk Hospital by the police. The murderer was identified as a 42-year old schoolteacher from Pooyappally in Kollam. The murder sparked outrage among healthcare professionals in Kerala and they demanded stringent legal action against those committing violent acts against healthcare professionals.[3]

Murder

Vandana Das was a 22 year old medical doctor who had studied at the Azeezia Institute of Medical Science, Kollam. She was working at the Kottarakkara Taluk Hospital as a part of her internship training. On 10 May 2023, a crime suspect was brought for medical examination by the police at around 4:30 am at the Kottarakkara Taluk hospital.[4]

According to the police, this crime suspect named Sandeep, an upper primary school teacher, was found in Pooyappally with injuries on one of his legs. He was under the influence of alcohol. He was nabbed by the police after he voluntarily dialled 112 since he was making a ruckus in his neighbourhood over the fact that he was feeling threatened over his life by someone and was taken to the hospital for medical examination. Two people, including a close relative, accompanied him to the hospital. At the hospital, Sandeep started attacking a policeman on duty and another person in the dressing room of the hospital. Seeing this, everyone around him fled, except for Das, who could not manage to run. Sandeep then took a scissor from the dressing room and stabbed Das multiple times. She sustained multiple injuries on her chest and neck, and was immediately taken to a hospital in Thiruvananthapuram, where she died.[4] Her autopsy reveals that she was fatally stabbed by a "surgical scissor" over 10 times on her neck and back. Bystanders state Sandeep continued stabbing the victim even after she fell to the ground.

Response

The House Surgeon's Association of Kerala, the organization of intern doctors, staged a protest and raised slogans demanding justice to the victim.[5] The Kerala Government Medical Officers' Association and the Indian Medical Association called for a one-day Kerala-wide protest over the death of Das. The incident sparked outrage among doctors, accusing the government and hospitals of having poor work conditions for interns and lack of safety for doctors against violence.[6]

References

  1. "Veena George's comment on Dr Vandana stirs row, minister says her words twisted". The News Minute. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  2. "Assailant stabs house surgeon to death in Kottarakara government taluk hospital". The Hindu. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  3. "'Doctors are easy targets': IMA Kerala president reacts to Dr Vandana's murder". The News Minute. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Kerala doctor stabbed to death while on duty: 'we were all proud of Vandana'". The Indian Express. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  5. "Kerala: Medicos stage protest over murder of Dr Vandana Das | News - Times of India Videos". The Times of India. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  6. "Dr Vandana's murder: Strikes mount in Kerala, doctors call off duties in protest". The News Minute. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
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