Shocking News: Man Attacks Doctor With Machete At Kozhikode Hospital, Kerala, After Daughter’s Death

A shocking act of violence unfolded at the Government Taluk Hospital in Thamarassery, Kozhikode district, on Wednesday afternoon when a man attacked a doctor with a machete inside the hospital premises. The accused, K.V. Sunoop, is the father of a nine-year-old girl who died in August from suspected amoebic meningoencephalitis .

According to eyewitnesses, Sunoop stormed into the office of the hospital’s medical superintendent and struck Dr Vipin on the head with a machete while the doctor was examining lab reports of another patient. A lab technician present at the scene said,“The accused shouted that the doctor caused his daughter’s death. Before we could react, he hit the doctor on the head with the machete. Before he could rain more blows, we restrained him and dragged him out of the superintendent’s office.”

Hospital staff immediately rushed Dr Vipin for emergency care. After initial treatment at the Taluk Hospital, he was shifted to Baby Memorial Hospital, where he was admitted to the neurosurgery ICU. Doctors confirmed that he had sustained a skull fracture and would require minor brain surgery, but his condition remains stable.

The police quickly intervened and arrested K.V. Sunoop. He now faces charges of attempt to murder and use of dangerous weapons. While being taken for medical examination, Sunoop told reporters that the attack was his way of “dedicating his anger” to the hospital superintendent, the health minister, and the health department.

Family sources revealed that Sunoop had been mentally distressed for several days after receiving new information about his daughter’s death. His wife, who requested anonymity, told reporters that doctors at Kozhikode Government Medical College had recently informed them that their daughter, Anaya, may not have died from amoebic encephalitis as initially diagnosed.

“Doctors at the hospital told my husband that our daughter did not have encephalitis caused by amoeba. Apparently, it was a fever case and that our daughter would have survived if she was referred to the Medical College a bit earlier. They told us on the basis of the postmortem report and the brain scans. We strongly believe she died due to medical negligence ,” she said, breaking down while speaking to the media.

In response to the attack, the Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association (KGMOA) announced a flash strike across Kozhikode district on Thursday. All outpatient services (OP) will remain suspended as a mark of protest. The association criticized the state government for failing to deliver on its promise to install police aid posts and enhance security at government hospitals.

The incident has reignited concerns over violence against healthcare professionals in Kerala. Doctors’ unions have demanded stricter enforcement of safety protocols, including dedicated police presence in hospital premises, to ensure that medical staff can work without fear.

As Dr Vipin continues to recover, police are investigating the sequence of events leading up to the assault, including the possible influence of misinformation and emotional distress on the attacker’s actions. Meanwhile, hospital operations remain tense, with staff shaken by the brutality of the incident