Assam to fast track trial in tea garden doctor's murder

Assam to fast track trial in tea garden doctor's murder

Guwahati: Doctors participate in a protest rally demanding immediate justice for senior doctor Deben Dutta who was thrashed to death, in Guwahati on Sep 3, 2019. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has proposed a legislation to address the issue of violence against healthcare professionals and damage to property of clinical establishments across the country. (Photo: IANS)

Guwahati, Sep 4 (IANS) The Assam Government on Wednesday said that it has decided to fast track the trial into the merciless killing of Deven Dutta, a doctor at the Teok Tea Garden in Jorhat district last week.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also said that the state government has also instituted an inquiry in this regard. He said Commissioner and Finance Secretary Shyam Jagannathan had been asked to carry out the inquiry regarding the killing.

Sonowal also had a telephonic conversation with the widow of slain doctor and assured that strict action will be initiated against those who took law in their hands.

Meanehile, a delegation of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) visited Datta's house on Wednesday and slammed the role of the Chief Minister and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for failing to come out with a statement regarding the brutal killing of the doctor on duty.

The IMA also threatened to launch a countrywide stir soon if the government fails to book the culprits and ensure justice to the family of the deceased.

On Saturday, a group of agitated tea garden workers attacked and killed the doctor in the hospital over the death of a labourer. Dutta was not available in the hospital when the labourer was admitted into the hospital in a critical condition. The patient had already died when the doctor reached the hospital only to face the ire of the about 300 workers, who beat him to death.

--IANS

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