Wayanad police on Thursday arrested two men in connection with the assault on a doctor at the Pulppalli Community Health Centre (CHC). The arrested are Amal Chacko (30) of Anapparam, Pulppalli, and P R Rajeev (31) of Palathuparamba, Perikkalloor.

Police have registered cases under the Kerala Healthcare Service Persons and Healthcare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhitha (BNS).

The arrests followed widespread protests by health sector organisations, including the Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association (KGMOA), Indian Medical Association (IMA), and the Staff Council. Protesters staged a sit-in in front of the CHC on Tuesday, demanding the immediate arrest of the culprits.

Later, they organised a protest march criticising the state government’s failure to ensure the safety of doctors on duty. Medical staff also highlighted the lack of security personnel at the hospital.

According to the police, the incident occurred on Monday, when Dr Jithin Raj P S, an assistant surgeon, intervened after Amal misbehaved with a woman doctor attending to a patient. Later, as Jithin was leaving the hospital after outpatient duty, the duo attacked him.
Police said the accused went into hiding soon after the incident, first taking shelter in Sathyamangalam and later moving to Bengaluru.

They were arrested upon their return to Wayanad, at Vadanakkavala near Pulppalli. Both have a criminal background, police added. A team led by Pulppalli Inspector K V Mahesh, along with Sub Inspectors T Aneesh and D Midhun, Additional Sub Inspector N R Vipin Kumar, and Civil Police Officer Sivakumar, made the arrests. The accused were produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Sulthan Bathery, on Thursday evening and remanded in judicial custody.