On 23 May, New Delhi, India A two-member inquiry committee has been established by the National Commission for Women to look into the death of a 23-year-old doctor who was allegedly stabbed to death at a hospital in Kottarakkara, Kerala, by a patient who had been taken there by the police for treatment.
The accused, S Sandeep, 42, fatally stabbed house surgeon Dr. Vandana, 23, in the hospital earlier this month. According to a formal statement, the victim’s grieving relatives asked the Commission to request intervention after expressing their displeasure with the actions done so far by the Kerala Police.
“Further, the family has made allegations of a potential cover-up by the police department. Therefore, the Commission’s two-member inquiry committee headed by Chairperson Rekha Sharma will be visiting the state on May 25 for a thorough inquiry to address these concerns,” the statement said. Upon learning of the event, the Commission wrote to the Director General of Police in Kerala requesting a thorough investigation.
According to the statement, “The Commission had also requested a detailed report in the matter, but the Commission is yet to receive the aforementioned report from the Kerala Police.”
The death of Dr. Vandana Das while she was on duty at Kottarakkara Taluk hospital was protested by female Congress party workers.
After a doctor was killed on May 11, a group of medical professionals led by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) met with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and made a number of demands regarding the protection of medical professionals.
An ordinance that aims to guarantee workplace safety in healthcare facilities was approved by the Keralan government.
The Kerala Health Care Service Workers and Health Care Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Amendment Ordinance, 2012, was approved by the Cabinet at a meeting presided over by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.