Dr Byju's parents Leela and Ayyapan before his dead bodyMoovattupuzha: Dr P A Byju had been practising for only nine months when he was caught up in a conspiracy that led to his paralysis and eventual death. The tragedy shattered a dalit family which had pinned its hopes on the young doctor.
Dr Byju had become a popular ayurveda doctor in his shortened stint at Shanthanpara. Santha was one of the many patients who found succor in his talent. The woman who suffered from rheumatism got so much better after the treatment that she was able to walk to the clinic all by herself to buy medicine.
Santha last went to the clinic on January 24, 2007. Dr Byju examined her and prescribed a concoction named Rasanapanjakam. The next day Santha’s husband and relatives barged into the clinic and created a ruckus. Santha has been paralyzed and they accused the doctor of causing it.
The doctor was incredulous. He offered to drink the concoction himself to prove his innocence. Little did he know that the medicine contained a deadly pesticide.
However, some of his staff insist that he was forced to drink the medicine. Byju had refused to drink from the bottle that was taken out and opened in his absence. Even his mother Leela had made similar allegations.
Dr Byju's motherSantha’s husband Rajappan was arrested after the people of the area stepped up their agitation. The probe has been a non-starter, Byju’s relatives and colleagues allege.
Later examinations found that the bottle of medicine contained a poisonous chemical called organophosphorus. The police, however, have not opted for a scientific investigation to find out how the chemical got mixed up with the medicine.
Byju’s relatives also allege that the police have tried to weaken the case by forcing some witnesses to turn hostile. The doctor’s mother said she would fight until her last breath to ensure justice for her son. The people of Bison Valley stand firmly behind her.
