In a shocking incident reported from the Latur city in Maharashtra, a man allegedly stabbed a doctor in the neck, chest, and hand after his mother, who had tested positive for the novel coronavirus a few days ago, died during treatment.

The 35-year-old man was a resident of Udgar and his 60-year-old mother was admitted to the Alpha Superspeciality Hospital after she tested positive for COVID-19. The woman, who had pre-existing medical conditions, passed away early Wednesday morning. The doctor had apparently informed her son and the woman's other family members of her serious condition due to the co-morbodities, but an argument ensued between the doctor, identified as Dinesh Varma, and the family of the deceased anyway. The woman's son and three other relatives waited for the doctor to arrive on Wednesday morning and got into a verbal spat with him at around 7 am. In a fit of rage, the deceased woman's son picked up a sharp object and stabbed the doctor with it in the chest, neck, and hands. The doctor, who is now in a serious condition, was immediately admitted to a different hospital where he is undergoing treatment.

The accused was arrested soon after the incident. According to a report by a news agency, "The local branch of the Indian Medical Association condemned the incident and announced that Out Patient Departments (OPDs) in the district would remain closed for a day in protest. It demanded round-the-clock police protection to doctors."