Irked by wifes death, man kills doctor

NAGERCOIL: Angered over the death of his pregnant wife during treatment, a man allegedly killed a senior government surgeon at her private clinic in Thoothukudi on Monday night, sparking a Statewide protest from the medical fraternity.Police have arrested the accused Mahesh and three of his friends Guru Muthu, Raja and Abbas, all aged 27. They had allegedly gone to the clinic of Sethu Lakshmi (55) and began abusing her. “A heated exchange ensued during which the four hacked the doctor to death,” a police officer said. Police said Mahesh had taken his wife Nithya (24), who was six months’ pregnant, to a private clinic run by Dr Lakshmi on December 30 after she complained of stomach pain. With Mahesh’s consent, she operated on Nithya. “Later the patient developed fits and Dr Lakshmi advised Mahesh to rush her to a bigger clinic. Nithya died after an hour-long treatment at another clinic.”Meanwhile, condemning the kiling of Dr Sethu Lakshmi, government doctors have declared a strike on Tuesday.