Kollam Court Delivers Life Sentence in Shocking Hospital Murder Case
A Kollam court on Saturday sentenced Sandeep G to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of young house surgeon Dr Vandana Das, a crime that sent shockwaves across Kerala nearly three years ago. The additional district and sessions court-I in Kollam found Sandeep guilty of murdering Dr Vandana, who was on duty at Kottarakkara taluk hospital on May 10, 2023.
Verdict and Sentencing Details
The court convicted Sandeep under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including:
- Section 302 (murder) - life imprisonment with a fine of Rs 1 lakh
- Section 307 (attempt to murder) - 10 years rigorous imprisonment with Rs 50,000 fine
- Section 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt) - 10 years imprisonment with Rs 25,000 fine
Additional sentences were imposed under Sections 324, 323, 333, 332, 341, and 201 of the IPC, along with provisions of the Kerala Healthcare Service Persons Act. The court directed that most sentences would run consecutively, with some running concurrently, and ordered that fines be paid as compensation to the victim's family and injured parties.
Family Dissatisfaction and Planned Appeal
The family of Dr Vandana Das expressed profound dissatisfaction with the verdict, stating they would challenge it in higher courts. Vandana's mother, Vasanthakumari, declared: "We will continue the legal battle until her killer is awarded the death penalty... I want him to suffer the same pain my daughter went through as he stabbed her 27 times."
Her father, Mohan Das, called the judgment only temporary relief, saying: "We were expecting capital punishment. We will move to the high court seeking enhancement of the sentence after discussions with the public prosecutor."
The Tragic Incident
The horrific incident occurred early on May 10, 2023, when Sandeep, a schoolteacher, was brought to the taluk hospital by police for treatment of a leg injury. He had earlier called emergency number 112 claiming his life was in danger. While undergoing treatment, he suddenly went on an attacking spree using surgical scissors from the procedure room.
He first attacked police personnel and a private individual who had accompanied him before turning on hospital staff. Dr Vandana, who was on duty in the casualty ward, was repeatedly stabbed. She was rushed to a private hospital and later shifted to Thiruvananthapuram, where she succumbed to her injuries.
Background of the Victim and Legal Proceedings
Dr Vandana Das, a native of Kottayam, was the only child of her parents. She was a student of Azeezia Medical College Hospital and was posted at the taluk hospital for her internship. During the trial, the defense argued that Sandeep was mentally unsound and sought protection under Section 84 of the IPC, but the court firmly rejected this insanity plea.
The Indian Medical Association has urged the state government to file an appeal to ensure maximum punishment in this case, highlighting ongoing concerns about violence against healthcare professionals.
