Shamna's death: Police probe mired in technical glitches

KOCHI: Referring the case of the death of Shamna Tasnim, an MBBS student of the Ernakulam Government Medical College (EMC), to the medical board is delayed for want of specific inputs in this regard from the investigation team, it is learnt. The office of the Commissioner of Police has asked the team to collect this information and submit it before forwarding the case to the medical board.

The Assistant Commissioner of Thrikkakara Binoy M who is investigating the case is to meet the EMC Principal Dr V K Sreekala as part of collecting additional input, police sources said. The inordinate delay in referring the case to the medical board is causing heartburns even as her relatives are made to grope in the dark with no authority coming forward to inform them about the status of two investigations launched into the case.  

Unconfirmed reports said that the report of the three member team headed by Joint Director of Medical Examinations (JDME) Dr K Sreekumari into the case will be tabled before the next Cabinet meeting and action against those responsible for any medical negligence will be taken only after that. The relatives are planning to meet Health Minister K K Shylaja once again seeking an answer to their questions including  access to the report submitted by the committee headed by the JDME and action against those responsible for medical negligence.

They are understood to be upset as their meeting with Chief Minister in this regard at Kalamassery when he came for the graduation ceremony of EMC, did not produce immediate result. However, they are still hopeful of a positive outcome. The family with none influential and weak financial condition is at a loss and the parents are still to come to grips with the tragedy. However the police and the health department authorities are seeing no urgency to respond to their pleas.