The attacker ran away after stabbing the doctor, people shouted – he cut him

Chennai:

A young man who attacked a doctor at a hospital in Chennai multiple times with a knife threw the knife in the shaft area and was casually walking out of the building when people shouted “he cut him” and security personnel caught hold of the attacker.

A video that surfaced hours after the attack shows the accused walking away after stabbing Dr Balaji, an oncologist and teacher at the government-run Kalaignar Centenary Super Specialty Hospital. The doctor was treating the attacker's mother, who was a cancer patient. The attacker, who was also a patient attendant at the hospital, reportedly suspected that the doctor had given the mother the wrong medicine.

According to a senior doctor, Dr Balaji is fitted with a pacemaker and has suffered injuries on his forehead, back, behind the ears and stomach. Health Minister Ma Subramaniam said that he is in the ICU, but his condition is stable.

In the video the attacker is seen going on foot. He took out the knife used in the attack from his pocket. It appears that after attempting to wipe the blood off the blade, he discards the knife in the shaft area and walks away.

The person recording the video is heard saying, “At least catch him now.” The accused says, “What if your mother or father had been in trouble?” Amidst the commotion and screams of “He cut her off”, the guard arrested the accused. As the crowd turns violent and starts beating him, a woman intervenes and tells them not to do so. He has been handed over to the police.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has ordered an investigation and assured that such an attack will not happen again. “The service of the doctors is commendable… and it is our responsibility to ensure their safety… the government will take steps to prevent such incidents in future,” he said in a post on Twitter.

The incident has again put doctors' safety in the spotlight – an issue that came to center stage after the rape-murder of a 31-year-old doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in August. Following the Supreme Court's direction, a national task force has now recommended steps to ensure the safety of doctors on duty.