SUBHASH MISHRA
Ranchi, Dec. 24: The Jharkhand chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), expressing grave concern over the Rs 1 crore extortion demand by criminals from a woman doctor in Dhanbad, has demanded immediate action from Chief Minister Hemant Soren over the matter.
IMA letter to CM
IMA state president Dr AK Singh and secretary Dr Pradip Kumar Singh today shot off a joint letter to the chief minister saying that criminals demanded extortion of Rs 1 crore from Dr Sarvmangla Prasad and his husband, Dr Hardev Prasad. The criminals have threatened to kill them if they fail to pay.
Extortion demand
“Following the extortion demand, Dr Sarvmangla and medicos in Dhanbad feared for their life. So, intervene immediately into the matter and take action so that private health services do not get hampered,” the IMA president and the secretary have said in the letter.
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Dr Pradip Kumar Singh has pointed out that extortion demands from doctors, industrialists, and businessmen are present daily in the state. “Last year, a senior surgeon of Dhanbad migrated to Kanpur after receiving extortion demand. A businessman was shot in his shop at the posh Bank More market,” he pointed out.
Security for doctors
“Jharkhand IMA demands security for doctors and immediate action against criminals so that medicos could do health service in a fearless environment. Otherwise, doctors would proceed on indefinite strike,” they said.
Demanding security cover and arresting of criminals, the Dhanbad chapter of IMA has already announced an indefinite strike of private health centres in the coal belt from December 30.
