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Doc’s killer ‘commits suicide’ in prison

The man accused of killing a prominent doctor in his Abu Dhabi consultancy room has allegedly succeeded in his second attempt to take his own life in prison, while questions surrounding the death are being asked.

According to various sources, the Pakistani man, identified as Mohammed Jamil Abdul Rashid, who earlier this month killed urologist Dr Rajan Daniel with a knife he bought from a grocery store near Al Ahalia Hospital, hung himself in his prison cell.

Pakistan Ambassador Jamil Ahmed Khan confirmed the news. “It is confirmed he has committed suicide in prison, and it was his second attempt while in legal custody. In the first attempt, he was saved by officials.”

“We were immediately informed by the Interior Ministry about his committing suicide in the prison. The body of the deceased has been flown to his hometown in Kohat of Khaibar Pakhatoonkhwa province.”

Khan said the embassy had informed the next of kin about the sad incident. All legal procedures, including the acquisition of his death certificate, were completed before his body was sent home on Monday. The ambassador said the embassy has taken up the issue with the UAE Ministry of Interior to explain the circumstances that led to his suicide.

When contacted, an Alhalia Hospital spokesperson C. Induchoodan said they were not aware of the incident. No officials at the Abu Dhabi Police were immediately available to comment on the incident.

Rashid had allegedly killed senior urologist Dr Daniel during a visit to the latter’s clinic. The accused had been under the doctor’s treatment for over three months and confessed that he killed the doctor because he was not able to cure him, despite daily visits over a period of more than three months.

Meanwhile, the news about the suicide came as another shock to the grieving family and friends of Dr Daniel. His wife Geetha and daughter Junu who are now in India were unavailable for comments.

However, a relative of Geetha who lives in Dubai said the doctor’s wife has gone into another phase of depression after hearing about the suicide. “People have started visiting her again after hearing about this. She has become depressed again. She just breaks down in seconds and it is difficult for us to face that,” said her cousin.

He said the grieving woman is seeking answers to the murder of her husband and the suicide of the accused. “We can’t understand why the man killed the doctor and then killed himself. She is asking the same question. We were all looking forward to knowing the motive for the murder,” he said.

Dr Daniel’s long-time colleague and friend Dr P.K. Gopinath Menon said the accused should have been adequately punished after a proper trial. “We have lost our friend. That is our main concern. But, all of us want to know what the provocation for the murder was and why this suicide now. As per our records, there was no provocation observed so as to kill or even manhandle the doctor as per the treatment. There are so many people who are not cured by various treatments and doctors cannot guarantee that they can cure all people,” he said.

news@khaleejtimes.com