Drunk man slashes throat of Puducherry govt hospital doctor

PUDUCHERRY: A 31-year-old doctor in Indira Gandhi Government General Hospital and Postgraduate Institute in Puducherry sustained injuries when a visitor, who was allegedly in inebriated condition, slashed his throat with a knife following a wordy duel on Monday night.

Police said R Vinoth, 39, of Boomiyanpet in the town came to visit his son V Mahesh, 17, undergoing treatment in the GH. He was allegedly under the influence of alcohol. His son had sustained severe injuries in a road accident on April 12 and was undergoing treatment at the intensive care unit (ICU).

His wife and sister, who were attending to his son, questioned him for coming to the hospital in an inebriated condition leading to a quarrel. The man attempted to assault his wife and sister.

Doctor on duty Dr Naveen Kumar of Tirupattur intervened and realized that the man was under the influence of alcohol and directed him to leave the ICU immediately leading to a wordy duel between the two.

The man went out, managed to fetch a knife and waited. When the doctor came out of the GH, the man slashes his throat.

The hospital staff members, patients and their attendants rescued the doctor and rushed him to the ICU. They managed to overpower the man and handed him over to the GH police outpost. The man was later handed over to the Grand Bazaar police.

Tension gripped the GH as soon as news spread that an inebriated man attacked a doctor on duty. The doctors, paramedics and other staff members launched a flash strike and boycotted work. They said there was no safety for the doctors, paramedics and other staff members in the hospital as the patients, their visitors and attendants had been unleashing violence against them.

Medical services were hit for a few hours because of the flash strike. The patients needing immediate medical attention were referred to Kadirkamam Government Medical College and Hospital and private hospitals.

Congress MP V Vaithilingam, independent MLA G Nehru alias Kuppusamy, secretary health A Muthamma and director (health and family welfare services) Dr G Sriramalu and a team from Grand Bazaar police station rushed to the GH and held peace talks with the doctors, paramedical and other staff members. They assured to extend adequate protection to the GH staff members following which the flash strike was withdrawn.

Grand Bazaar police booked Vinoth under sections 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and 506 (ii) (punishment for criminal intimidation and if threat be to cause death or grievous hurt etc) of the Indian Penal Code and arrested him.


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