MALAPPURAM, KERALA – The medical community in Kerala is in a state of shock following a violent assault on Dr. Sini Jaleel , a senior gynaecologist at the
Perinthalmanna District Hospital , on the evening of Thursday, April 2, 2026. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association (KGMOA) have issued strong statements condemning the incident as a “direct challenge to the public healthcare system.”
Details of the Incident:
- The Assault: According to police reports, four individuals—including three women wearing veils—entered Dr. Jaleel’s private clinic adjacent to her residence after making a prior appointment. Once inside, they allegedly locked the consultation room from the inside and brutally assaulted the doctor, pinning her down while recording the episode on a mobile phone.
- Injuries:
Dr. Jaleel sustained a fractured nose and facial injuries and is currently receiving treatment in the surgical ICU of a private hospital. Two clinic assistants were also injured while attempting to intervene.
- Motive: The attack is believed to be in retaliation for the death of a patient approximately one week prior at the Perinthalmanna District Hospital. The patient had succumbed to postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) caused by an atonic uterus—a life-threatening complication that the KGMOA maintains was managed strictly according to medical protocol.
Reactions and Legal Action:
- Arrests: Malappuram police confirmed that four women were arrested on Friday in connection with the assault. They face charges under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Kerala Healthcare Service Persons Act.
- Protests: In response to the violence, the IMA Perinthalmanna unit called for a strike, with doctors from both government and private sectors suspending outpatient services to demand better security for healthcare workers.
- Policy Demands: The KGMOA has used this incident to highlight chronic staffing shortages, calling for the creation of 24-hour service posts for gynaecologists and anaesthetists at all delivery centres to prevent future misunderstandings over medical complications.
The IMA has warned that such acts of violence, rooted in a lack of understanding of “scientific challenges in medical treatment,” will severely demoralise the medical fraternity.
