Dr Archana Sharma’s family vows to continue their fight for justice

Suicide note left by Dr Archana Sharma

The family and friends of the late Dr Archana Sharma, 42, immersed her ashes in the Ganges on Friday, with a vow to continue their fight for justice and ensure that the government takes proactive measures to ensure that no other doctor becomes a ‘victim' of a powerful lobby with a vested interest. Dr Sharma recently died by suicide, after she was booked for allegedly causing the death of a pregnant woman in Rajasthan.

A loss to family and village

The victim's brother-in-law Dr Ashish Sharma, a practising Ophthalmologist who resides in Thane, said, "The family immersed her ashes in the Ganges, in Haridwar, on Friday. Dr Sharma was the only obstetrician and gynaecologist, catering to an area of 40 km radius around Anand Hospital at Lalsot town in Dausa district of Rajasthan. She was not only kind-hearted but also equally experienced in her profession."

"It was her father-in-law's dream for people staying in Lalsot and neighbouring villages to get the best medical facility, as people had to travel long distances for delivery and medical emergencies. Her death is a loss not only to the family but to the entire neighbourhood," he added.

Family inconsolable

Dr Ashish added, "My wife Dr Shubha (a dental surgeon) wanted to visit her brother and sister-in-law as she was missing them desperately. She made flight bookings to and fro (April 1 and April 4) Rajasthan. A night before the incident (March 28) Shubha had called her brother Dr Suneet, and all he said was that due to some death in the hospital, he could not speak at that moment. The following morning, Shubha called her mother who was inconsolable. She then called her brother Dr Suneet, who informed her about the death."

She slipped into depression

"Dr Sharma was a gold medal holder and was a kind person by nature. She left behind her 13-year-old son and a seven-year-old daughter. Her suicide note also states that she had done nothing wrong, the whole incident had impacted her so adversely that she took such an extreme step," said Dr Ashish.

He added, "It is unfortunate that to date no action has been taken against Shivshankar alias Bhaliya Joshi, who instigated the mob and was instrumental in levying false allegations against Dr Suneet Upadhaya, practising psychiatrist, and his wife Dr Archana Sharma. And the next morning, Archana, who read about the allegations and subsequent news in a local newspaper, slipped into depression and by a little after 11 am she died by suicide."

Complaint filed

"On March 29, Dr Suneet in his complaint accused Shivshankar alias Bhaliya Joshi, and others of abetting his wife's suicide. The police have booked them under sections 306 (abetment to commit suicide), 384 (punishment for extortion) and 388 (extortion by threat of accusation of an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life etc) of the Indian Penal Code," said Dr Ashish.