2 teenagers enter Delhi hospital, kill doctor after dressing.
The tragic shooting of a doctor at a Delhi hospital by two teenagers comes less than two months after a similar horror in Kolkata, where a doctor on night shift was raped and murdered at a state-run hospital. Both incidents have sent shockwaves across the medical community, raising concerns about the safety of healthcare professionals in India. The Delhi incident, in which the teenagers got a dressing done before fatally shooting the doctor, has sparked outrage, prompting calls for stronger security measures at hospitals. These back-to-back attacks highlight the increasing risks faced by doctors while performing their duties.
A tragic incident unfolded at a private nursing home in Delhi’s Jaitpur last night, where a 55-year-old doctor, Dr. Javed Akhtar, was shot dead by two teenagers. The killing comes less than two months after the brutal rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata, sparking renewed concerns over the safety of healthcare professionals in India.
Dr. Akhtar, a practitioner of Unani medicine, was in his cabin at Nima Hospital when the shooting occurred. According to the hospital staff, two teenagers arrived late at night, seeking medical attention. One of them had an injured toe, which had been treated at the hospital the previous night. They requested a change of dressing for the injury, and once this was done, they asked for a prescription from Dr. Akhtar.
The hospital’s nursing staff, Gajala Parveen and Md. Kamil, who were nearby, reported hearing a gunshot minutes after the teenagers entered the doctor’s cabin. Rushing to the scene, they found Dr. Akhtar bleeding heavily from a gunshot wound to his head. Despite immediate efforts to save him, Dr. Akhtar succumbed to his injuries.
The assailants, believed to be 16 or 17 years old, fled the scene shortly after the shooting. The hospital staff have informed police that the teenagers had visited the hospital the night before, which authorities now suspect might have been a reconnaissance trip to plan the attack.
Police are currently investigating the incident as a targeted killing. While the motive behind the murder remains unclear, law enforcement officials are scanning CCTV footage from inside the hospital in an attempt to identify the suspects. So far, no arrests have been made, but authorities are confident that the CCTV footage will provide crucial leads in tracking down the assailants.
The Kolkata Tragedy and Nationwide Protests
This shooting follows the horrific rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor in Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital less than two months ago. The doctor, who was on night duty, was attacked in the hospital, sparking widespread outrage across the country. Doctors from various parts of India took to the streets, demanding stricter measures for the protection of healthcare workers. Protests were held in major cities, and medical professionals called for better security in hospitals, particularly for those working night shifts.
The Kolkata incident raised serious concerns about the vulnerability of doctors, especially in public hospitals where security measures are often inadequate. Despite the public outcry and temporary security improvements, the killing of Dr. Akhtar in Delhi has highlighted that these issues remain unresolved.
Growing Threat to Medical Professionals
The back-to-back incidents of violence against doctors in Kolkata and now Delhi are alarming reminders of the increasing risks faced by healthcare professionals in India. Hospitals, which are supposed to be places of healing, are turning into danger zones for doctors and staff. These attacks not only affect the safety of medical professionals but also undermine the morale of those working tirelessly to care for patients, particularly in the current healthcare climate.
The medical fraternity is once again calling for immediate action from authorities to ensure the safety of doctors and other healthcare workers. The lack of adequate security in many hospitals leaves staff vulnerable to attacks from patients, their families, or, in this case, suspected criminals.
The need for stricter laws and better implementation of existing regulations to protect doctors has never been more urgent. The incidents in Kolkata and Delhi have shaken the medical community and left a lingering fear among healthcare workers, who demand the government take swift and decisive action to prevent further tragedies.
As investigations into the Delhi shooting continue, the case serves as a somber reminder of the pressing need for enhanced security measures to protect those who dedicate their lives to saving others.