Thiruvananthapuram: Doctors demanding justice for Dr Vandana Das, who was killed by her patient in a hospital in Kerala yesterday, have decided to extend their strike for another day. They staged a protest in front of the secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram today by raising slogans on violence against doctors.
The 22-year-old doctor was stabbed to death by the accused patient with scissors when she was dressing a wound on his leg. It was learnt that the accused stabbed Das several times without provocation. A policeman and a security staff were also injured in the incident.
After the incident, the Indian Medical Association had called a strike in protest that has been extended for another 24 hours today. Emergency services have remained exempted from the strike. Protests continued to be held across the districts. Agitating doctors said they were ensuring emergency services but also demanding justice. The IMA on Wednesday had demanded that Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan should come up with a law for protection of doctors.
Also Read: "I'll kill you": What led to Kerala doctor murder by the patient she treated
Meanwhile, the last rites of Vandana will be conducted this afternoon. Earlier, her body was brought to her residence in Kottayam and kept for public homage. Opposition leader VD Satheesan, ministers, MLAs and health workers were present to pay homage. Yesterday, Kerala chief minister Vijayan and Governor Arif Muhammad Khan paid their last respects in Thiruvananthapuram.
A special bench of the Kerala High Court has criticised the police for their inability to protect Vandana saying it was a complete breakdown of the system. Also, it ordered for a physical inspection of the crime scene and asked to submit the report today. The state police chief has been asked to attend the session online and present the report.
