MURDER OF LOCAL DOCTOR OUTRAGES VARAZDINSE TOPLICE

VARAZDINSKE TOPLICE, Apr 14 (Hina) - The municipal authorities of Varazdinske Toplice on Thursday issued a statement in connection with the murder of a doctor working at the local spa hospital, Dr. Dalibor Kraljic, who was shot by a patient on Tuesday. Both Dr. Kraljic, who was a reserve officer, and the killer had fought in the war. Condemning the murder, the statement recalled that both the selectmen and the hospital management had repeatedly warned the Government and the relevant ministries about the riotous and disorderly behaviour of a number of demobilised soldiers treated at the hospital, of whom several showed an alarming partiality to firearms. However, repeated entreaties to authorities in charge to have these firearms confiscated remained unanswered. About a thousand local inhabitants staged a protest rally on Thursday. Reading out a list of the patients' misdeeds, which included beating up harmless villagers, the citizens blasted the defence ministry for "having done nothing to restrain the vandals responsible for the rumpus." The participants were particularly indignant over attempts to cover up the disturbances and the fact that patients were allowed to walk around armed. The staff of the spa hospital yesterday went on a protest strike. However, after a meeting with government representatives, police, selectmen and county authorities, the doctors consented to return to work. 142100 MET apr 94