Published Mar 21, 2026 | 1:48 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 21, 2026 | 3:52 PM
Dr Vandana Das. (Supplied)
Synopsis: It was in May 2023 that Dr Vandana Das, a young house surgeon who was brutally killed while on duty at the Kottarakkara Taluk Hospital. The lone convict, Sandeep, a native of Kudavattoor, was brought to the hospital by police for a medical examination on May 10, 2023.
Kollam Additional Sessions Court sentenced Sandeep, the convict in the Dr Vandana Das murder case, to life imprisonment. The court also levied a fine of ₹1 lakh.
Earlier on Tuesday, the court found Sandeep guilty. Meanwhile, the prosecution said that it will appeal against the verdict as it had argued for capital punishment.
It was in May 2023 that Dr Vandana Das, a young house surgeon who was brutally killed while on duty at the Kottarakkara Taluk Hospital. The lone convict, Sandeep, a native of Kudavattoor, was brought to the hospital by police for a medical examination on May 10, 2023.
In a shocking turn of events, he attacked Dr Vandana with a pair of scissors, fatally stabbing her inside the hospital premises.
The incident, which also saw police personnel being assaulted, sent shockwaves across the state.
The murder triggered widespread outrage and protests by healthcare workers across Kerala, bringing hospital safety into sharp focus. Doctors, nurses and other medical staff took to the streets, demanding urgent and concrete measures to protect them from violence in workplaces that are meant to save lives.
The case was built on strong evidentiary grounds, including crucial CCTV footage from the hospital.
The prosecution presented 70 witnesses, 27 documents and 23 material exhibits before the court, led by Special Prosecutor Adv. Pratap G. Padikkal.
Earlier, when the trial was scheduled, the accused had approached the Supreme Court seeking bail. However, a mental evaluation ordered by the apex court found that he was fit to stand trial, following which the bail plea was rejected.
The trial proceeded thereafter, and the court had also dismissed a release petition filed by the accused.
The case was investigated by a team led by Kollam Rural Crime Branch Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) MM Jose.
Beyond the courtroom, the impact of Vandana’s death was immediate and far-reaching.
The incident compelled the government to step in with stricter guidelines and reinforce provisions in existing laws aimed at protecting healthcare workers.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has expressed strong disappointment over the life sentence awarded to Sandeep and urged the state government to file an appeal seeking stricter punishment.
In a statement, IMA state president Dr MN Menon and secretary Dr Roy R Chandran said the verdict had deeply disheartened the medical community.
They argued that anything less than maximum punishment in such a brutal case would weaken the morale of doctors and hospital staff across the state.
The association also renewed its demand to strengthen the Hospital Protection Act, stressing the need to declare hospitals as protected zones to ensure the safety of healthcare workers.
“Doctors should be able to treat patients without fear for their lives,” the statement said.
Recalling the incident, the IMA noted that the accused, identified as Sandeep, had allegedly attacked and killed the young doctor while in police custody during a medical examination — an act the association described as “shocking and unprovoked.”
The IMA warned that failure to secure exemplary punishment in such cases could embolden further attacks on healthcare professionals.
It also called for the immediate implementation of key recommendations in the proposed hospital protection legislation to curb rising violence against medical staff.
Emphasising the urgency of the issue, the association said the government must act decisively to restore confidence among healthcare workers and ensure that hospitals remain safe spaces for both patients and those who treat them.
(With inputs from Dileep V Kumar)
