Jharkhand: Extortion calls force doctor to leave his city, 4 arrested after IMA threatens strike

Ranchi: Four men, who were involved in making death extortion calls and sending death threats to a Dhanbad based well known laparoscopic surgeon for the past one month on behalf of UP-based gangster Aman Singh was arrested by the district police in Dhanbad.

The doctor has been identified as Samir Kumar who runs a 50-bed Suyash Clinic in Dhanbad. Dr. Kumar has recently left the city out of fear with his family.

In response to this, The Indian Medical Association (IMA) threatened the police to take immediate action otherwise medical services will be shut down in the city from May 9. 

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As per a media report in the Times of India, the accused has been identified as Mohammad Sirajuddin, Mohammad Illiyas, Bunty Khan and Veer Bahadur Singh alias Veeru. Cases were filed by the Dhanbad police under Sections 386,387, 109, 120B, 467, 468 and 471 of the IPC against the accused.

The incident took place when the doctor started receiving threat calls from the accused on WhatsApp but the doctor did not take the matter seriously. One day, he received a text from the accused demanding Rs 1 crore from him or else his life is in danger leading to death. In the message it was clearly written to visit the Dhanbad jail gate where someone would meet the doctor. Terrified by the situation, the doctor immediately went to the police station. A complaint was filed against the accused.

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"I was provided a body guard who was removed a few days later," said Kumar. Despite informing the police, the doctor began receiving the threat calls for the past one month.

Before leaving the city, on Monday he met with the Dhanbad senior superintendent of police (SSP) and IMA secretary Sushil Kumar to request them again to take action against the matter as he was receiving the threat call again on Monday saying neither police nor media would be able to protect him.

"I met the SSP again along with the IMA secretary. I was provided with a bodyguard again, but I left the city the next day," he said through a phone cal from a unknown location after leaving the city.

He also stated that until the police takes any action he won't be coming to the city as he does not feel safe here anymore.

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While speaking with HT, kumar said "When I left my hospital, there were two patients still there. I have asked my doctor friends to look after them till they are discharged. No new patient would be admitted. I am in a public life. You never know who comes to meet me. I won't return to the city until I see police action that instils confidence that me and my family are safe in the town,"

However, The Indian Medical Association (IMA) secretary (Dhanbad chapter), Dr Sushil Kumar, said that if they don't witness any progress in taking action in the next two days, medical services including emergency will be shut down and doctors from across the state would join them.

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"This is an unprecedented situation where the leading surgeon of the city is running around for his life," said Dr Sushil.

Responding to the matter, Dhanbad SSP Sanjeev Kumar said "We have got leads. We are collecting evidence. Very soon, people associated with the gangster would be arrested. We have also filed an application before the court to shift Aman Singh to some other jail. As far as the security of the victim is concerned, we immediately provided him with bodyguard but he left the city. He told me he was leaving for personal reasons. We assure that all required action would be taken against the accused in a day or two."

The gangster, Aman has denied his involvement in the case. While he was brought before the court for the present murder case for which he was jailed, he spoke to the media regarding the doctor incident, where he said, "I don't even know Dr Kumar. Instead, former Jharkhand ministers Bachcha Singh and Harsh Singh may get me killed if I am shifted to another jail."