Dhanbad doctor leaves city after death threats

Dhanbad: The Dhanbad unit of Indian Medical Association (IMA) has decided to shut all private hospitals and put a stop to emergency services throughout the district for an indefinite period from May 9 to protest against the ‘indifferent attitude of the district administration and the police’ in providing security to the medical fraternity, particularly one Dr Samir Kumar who had to leave Dhanbad earlier this week after receiving extortion calls and subsequently, death threats from a jailed gangster for months.
Talking to TOI on Wednesday, IMA (Dhanbad) secretary Dr Shushil Kumar said, “The administration has failed in its role to check lawlessness and criminal activities. Nowadays, businessmen and doctors are getting threats and being attacked frequently but the police continue to evade responsibility by saying that a probe is underway. Hence, we have decided to stop all types of medical services from May 9.”
Dr Kumar, who is a well-known laparoscopic surgeon in the district, had been receiving extortion calls since March from gangster Aman Singh, who is currently lodged in Dhanbad jail in connection with the murder of former deputy mayor Neeraj Singh. “I received the first message for extortion on March 29 when a member of Aman’s gang, who identified himself as Chhotu Singh, contacted me on WhatsApp and demanded Rs 1 crore at one go and Rs 5 lakh every month. He even asked me to meet Aman in jail. Subsequently, I started getting several threat calls from different numbers,” Dr Kumar told TOI.
Three days ago, the doctor received another call from a new number where the caller allegedly cited the recent murder of one Ranjit Sao, a tyre shop owner, said that he will also be eliminated in a similar manner. “Even today, I received a threat call around noon. Thus, I have decided to shut my clinic (located in Matkuria under Bank More police station) and leave Dhanbad,” Dr Kumar, who left the district on Tuesday, added.
The doctor, who had been living in Dhanbad for the past 25 years, is now living at his in-laws’ place in another state.
Police, on the other hand, have said that they are in the process of shifting Aman to another jail. “Our investigation so far, has revealed that Aman is the mastermind behind the extortion calls. He will soon be shifted to another jail,” Dhanbad SSP Sanjiv Kumar said.