KOCHI: The fight for justice by Jishnu Pranoy’s family seems to have sparked off another potential agitation. Eight months have passed since the death of MBBS student Shamna Thasneem, allegedly due to medical negligence at the Government Medical College, Kochi. But no progress has been made in the case.
Now, people from Shamna’s native place - Shivapuram in Kannur - have constituted an action committee to intensify the agitation seeking a free and fair probe into her death. They demand strong action against the culprits.
The development has given Shamna’s father K A Abootty’s hitherto solo fight public support.
It comes in the backdrop of local residents in Jishnu’s native place extending full support to his sister’s hunger strike at home even as his mother Mahija was on a hunger strike in Thiruvananthapuram following the controversial police action at the DGP office.
“The local people were supportive of my fight for justice, but the action council formed the other day has given me added strength,” Abootty, a Gulf returnee engaged in a legal battle since the death of her daughter July last, told Express.
“The fight by Jishnu’s family could have influenced the people. It’s true there is a general feeling among the public the fight for justice for Shamna should be intensified. I’ll fight to get justice for my daughter till the last breath. We’re awaiting government action against the culprits.”
He said no firm action has been initiated against the doctors responsible for Shamna’s death. Besides, the two suspended doctors were reinstated after a month.
Last month, a 25-year-old died at the same hospital in another case of alleged medical negligence.
Thevakkal-native Jerin Michael, who reached the hospital around 6.30 am on March 25 with stomach pain, died around 11.20 pm. Jerin’s relatives alleged he was denied proper medical care.
“Let the Jishnu Pranoy case be an eye-opener to Kerala society. Culprits should not think they can escape easily. In Shamna’s case, the state should have ensured justice for that family,’’said Dr N K Sanil Kumar, a volunteer with the Justice V R Krishna Iyer Movement extending support to Abootty’s fight for justice.