Shraddha M. Bansode

A 42-year-old HIV patient suffering from brain TB went on a killing spree in Mumbai’s Bombay Hospital on Monday, slaying a 65-year-old lung cancer patient and injuring two others.

In what may be termed as an unprovoked attack the hysterical man battered their victims with a steel stand without being provoked.

The attack took place around 6.30am; the HIV-patient started hitting Lilabihari Govardhan Thakur, 65, who was sleeping on the adjacent bed till he started bleeding.

He also injured two other patients – Praful Parmar, 70, and Janardhan Arte, 66 as well as a ward boy. Thakur, whose lung cancer was in an advanced stage, was to be discharged in three days after a month's stay in the hospital.

According to eyewitnesses, the Agripada resident, who had been admitted on May 8 with fever and cold, emerged from the toilet, picked up a steel IV stand, and in a sudden, inexplicable bout of violent rage, barged into a neighbouring ward and starting attacking whoever came in his way. The police said the people at the ward struggled to overpower the man.

"He was so violent that even three to four men could not stop him.”

"By the time, ward boys and patients' relatives could stop him, he had smashed Thakur's head," said a source. Thakur was rushed to the hospital ICU, where he was pronounced dead after three hours. Sources said the attacker suffered from psychiatric problems and had homicidal tendencies. JJ Hospital dean Dr Tatyarao Lahane also informed the media persons that the patient had a history of mental illness and was treated for the same a few years ago. But, Bombay Hospital spokesperson Dr Sagar Sakle said: "The patient had no psychiatric problem and that was the reason he was not referred to a psychiatric ward. He was brought for treatment of tuberculosis of brain."

According to experts, TB drugs have side-effects on the patients, which include hallucination, depression and anxiety. In this case, Talukdar, the attacker was taking dosages which led to aggression and sudden mood swings.

The accused was immediately taken into police custody and admitted to the JJ Hospital. He has been charged with murder.