By The News Observer Desk,
Karwar: In a deeply tragic incident, a medical professional allegedly died by suicide after shooting himself with a double-barrel gun at his residence in Aversa village of Ankola taluk, Uttara Kannada district, on Friday morning.
The deceased has been identified as Raju Pikle, also known as Rajeev Pikle, associated with Pikle Nursing Home in Karwar. According to police sources, the incident occurred at his residence in Aversa, leaving his family, colleagues, and local residents in profound shock.
Sources indicate that Pikle had been under severe mental stress over the past few weeks following a controversy that surfaced on social media. Around fifteen days ago, a video allegedly accusing him of giving expired medication to a patient went viral online. It is believed the video was secretly recorded by relatives of an unidentified patient and widely circulated across social media platforms.
https://youtu.be/fZL5NWKmAEQ
Following the incident, Pikle reportedly slipped into deep psychological distress. He had allegedly issued a public apology, stating that the incident was unintentional and occurred due to an oversight. However, continued circulation of the video and persistent mental pressure are said to have affected him profoundly.
On Tuesday, Pikle was found dead at his residence, and it was later confirmed that he had used a licensed double-barrel gun to take his life. The exact sequence of events leading up to the tragedy is still being investigated.
The Ankola Police Station has registered a case and initiated a detailed investigation. Police officials visited the scene, conducted a preliminary inspection, and are recording statements from family members and others connected with the case. Further legal procedures are underway.
Pikle Nursing Home in Karwar, one of the oldest healthcare institutions in the coastal town. Established over six decades ago, Pikle Nursing Home has served generations of local residents and is widely known for its long-standing presence and reputation in Karwar’s healthcare landscape. The incident has triggered widespread grief across Karwar and Ankola taluks, with public and members of the healthcare community expressing sorrow over the loss. Several colleagues and local residents described Raju Pikle as a committed professional and voiced concern over the growing psychological pressure faced by healthcare workers, particularly due to social media scrutiny and public condemnation.
The tragedy has once again drawn attention to the mental health challenges faced by medical professionals and the potentially devastating impact of online harassment and unchecked allegations.
Reporting by Saikiran Babrekar
