Kollam, 17 March (H.S.): The Additional Sessions Court in Kollam will pronounce its verdict on Tuesday in the sensational murder case of Dr. Vandana Das, who was brutally killed while on duty at the Kottarakkara Taluk Hospital in 2023. The case, which shocked Kerala and raised serious concerns over the safety of healthcare workers, has reached its conclusion after nearly three years of trial proceedings.

The sole accused in the case is Sandeep, a native of Kudavattur. The prosecution examined more than 70 witnesses during the trial, while 22 material objects and 207 documents were presented as evidence before the court. The final arguments concluded recently, paving the way for the verdict.

The incident occurred on May 10, 2023, when Dr. Vandana Das, a young house surgeon, was on duty at the hospital. The accused, Sandeep, had been brought to the hospital by Pooyappally police for medical examination following his detention in another case. While being treated in the hospital’s dressing room, Sandeep suddenly turned violent.

According to the prosecution, he grabbed a surgical scissors from the room and attacked the police personnel and another individual who had accompanied him. As panic spread, others present in the room managed to flee. However, Dr. Vandana Das was unable to escape.

The accused allegedly restrained her and repeatedly stabbed her in the chest, back, and neck with extreme brutality. Despite efforts to save her, she succumbed to her injuries shortly after the attack. The gruesome nature of the murder sparked widespread outrage across the state, with medical professionals and the public demanding stricter security measures in hospitals.

Investigations later confirmed that the accused did not suffer from any mental illness at the time of the crime, based on medical evaluations conducted during the probe.

The prosecution in the case was led by Special Public Prosecutor Advocate Prathap G. Padikkal, who argued that the crime was premeditated and executed with extreme cruelty.

The verdict, expected later today, is likely to be a significant moment not only for the victim’s family but also for the medical community, which has been closely following the case as a test of justice and accountability in crimes against healthcare workers.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman