Man in burqa stabs woman doctor, victim's ex-boss held

CHENNAI: A burqa-clad man stabbed a 35-year-old woman doctor at her house in Perambur on Wednesday night after being hired by another doctor to attack her owing to professional rivalry. Police arrested the woman's former employer V M

Thomas

of the Chennai Fertility Centre and five of his associates.

Ramya Shanmughasundaram, who suffered multiple injuries to the head, hip and legs, was admitted to a private hospital. Doctors said her condition was stable.

When Ramya reached her house in her car around 10pm, a man attired in a burqa marched towards her, took out a knife and stabbed her repeatedly as she got down from the vehicle.

Following a complaint lodged by her husband, a spe cial team headed by assistant commissioner, Sembium, Arnold Easter probed the case.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Ramya had quit her position at the Chennai Fertility Centre on

Nelson Manickam Road

run by Thomas six months ago, a police officer said.

She later joined as partner-doctor in another fertility clinic located in Koyambedu. Irked by Ramya's depar ture, Thomas began to threaten Ramya, alleging that she was taking away all his patients.

Ramya, who was initially in the dark about her attacker, later informed police about Thomas and his threatening calls. Following an investigation, police arrested six suspects including Thomas for attempting to murder the doctor.

The five others were identified as Palanisamy , 22, of Ennore, Yona, 42, of Nelson Manickam Road, Mugilan, 36, of Royapuram, Sathyakala, 33, of Ennore and Bhavani, 23.

Interrogations revealed that Thomas conveyed the plan to his manager Yona who hired Palanisamy to carry out the attack. Ramya's husband Shanmugasundaram is also a doctor working in the private hospital in Koyambedu.