Medical check-up: ADGP issues new guidelines for cops in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: In the wake of the recent murder of Dr Vandana Das at Kottarakkara taluk hospital by a person brought by the police for medical examination, police have come up with fresh guidelines for the force while producing individuals, survivors, accused, etc. for medical examination.

If the individual being produced is violent in nature, police officers should not stand away from the person when the doctor is examining him or her.

If the doctor insists that police officers should stay away, the officers should position in such a way that the person being examined is visible to them. If there are sharp objects nearby while conducting medical examination, those should be removed, the guidelines said.

Police should make an assessment of the person if s/he has a nature of violence while taking into custody. This matter should be conveyed to the doctor as well, it said.

In the wake of the latest incident, police officers’ association had come up with a resolution that the earlier protocol that the officers should not stay with the person in custody during medical examination, should be changed.

It was the police who were blamed for the murder. It is in the wake that ADGP (law and order) has issued fresh guidelines.