Rajasthan doctor booked for murder dies by suicide, leaves note: 'Stop harassing doctors'

New Delhi: The suicide of a woman doctor in Rajasthan after she was accused of murder, has sent shock waves across the state and triggered protests even in the national capital Delhi.

As per a PTI report, Dr Archana Sharma died by suicide on Tuesday due to alleged harassment after police filed an FIR against her under section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code at Lalsot Police Station in Dausa in connection with the death of a pregnant woman at her hospital.

According to reports, the pregnant woman had died on Tuesday due to haemorrhage shortly after giving birth at the private hospital in Rajasthan's Dausa.

Later, her family held demonstrations outside the hospital and left only after the police filed a case of murder against Dr Archana Sharma and her husband.

The police said Archana Sharma was distraught by the demonstrations and the filing of the First Information Report naming her.

The doctor -- who ran the hospital with her husband -- left behind a heartbreaking suicide note, where she asserted her innocence.

The patient, she wrote, died of postpartum haemorrhage despite all efforts to save her. "Don't harass innocent doctors," was her big message, written in all-caps. Her death, she added, will prove her innocence.

In the handwritten note, she also asked the authorities not to harass her husband and two young children after her death. Dr Sunil Upadhyay, the distraught husband of Dr Archana Sharma, told NDTV: "There should be action against the police. How did they file a case of Section 302 (murder) against her? There should be a law to stop harassing doctors and demanding money from them. My wife has died but what about other innocent doctors?"

The incident has sent shock waves through the medical community. The Indian Medical Association of Rajasthan has called for a 24-hour strike and Protest day in the state.

In Delhi, Resident doctors of AIIMS have planned a symbolic protest, wearing black ribbons.

Promising action in the case, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot tweeted: "The suicide incident of Dr Archana Sharma is deeply saddening. We consider doctors as gods. To save the life of patients, every doctor tries their best, but in case of any mishappening, it is not justified to blame the doctors."

According to an official release, Mr Gehlot has directed the officials to remove Dausa Superintendent of Police Anil Kumar, suspended SHO of Lalsot Police Station Ankesh Kumar and put deputy Superintendent of Police Lalsot Shankar Lal under awaiting posting orders.