3 october 2024 : A doctor was shot dead early Thursday morning inside a nursing home in Kalindi Kunj, southeast Delhi. Police reported that the assailants, appearing to be minors, arrived at the Nima Hospital seeking treatment before fatally shooting Javed Akhtar, a Unani practitioner (BUMS), around 1:45 a.m.
According to police, Akhtar was discovered slumped in a chair, bleeding from the head. Investigations indicated that two boys, approximately 16 years old, had come to the hospital around 1 a.m. for a dressing. One of them had a bandaged toe and had visited the hospital the previous day.
After receiving treatment, the boys entered Akhtar’s cabin. Shortly afterward, night nursing staff Gajala Parveen and Mohammad Kamil heard a gunshot. Parveen rushed to the cabin to find Akhtar motionless in a pool of blood.
Initial investigations suggest this was a targeted killing, given its unprovoked nature and the apparent planning involved. Akhtar had been on duty since 8 p.m., as confirmed by staff member Abid.
This incident has sparked renewed concerns over the safety and security of doctors nationwide, especially following the recent rape and murder of a female medic at RG Kar hospital. In Kolkata, a man was detained for threatening a doctor attending to him just the day before.
In response to escalating violence and inadequate security measures, including the lack of CCTVs and 24/7 security personnel, doctors in Kolkata have resumed protests and halted work. Last month, the West Bengal government had reached an agreement with junior doctors to address their security concerns. Many doctors express that the prevailing atmosphere of fear in hospitals is making their work increasingly difficult.