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Journalism of Courage
The healthcare system in Bihar will collapse from 7 am tomorrow if the abducted doctor, Ramesh Chandra, is not released by then.
Dr Chandra was kidnapped on Saturday night, and doctors in Bihar had given a 48-hour ultimatum to the government to ensure his release, which ended this evening.
Police say they are confident about cracking the case soon, but doctors refused to relent. ‘‘They have been saying the same thing since Sunday. We don’t trust them,’’ said Dr Ajay of the Indian Medical Association.
Meanwhile, coming down heavily on the Rabri Devi government and the RJD ‘‘for being directly involved’’ in the many kidnappings, the NDA has called for a Patna bandh on Wednesday.
‘‘Ministers, MLAs and RJD leaders are directly involved in many of the kidnappings that have taken place recently,’’ NDA leaders Sushil Modi and Nandkishore Yadav said at a press conference.
No talks were held today between doctors and the government. IMA said facilities in private and government hospitals, including labs and emergency services, will be closed. No ransom calls have been received for Chandra’s release. His wife Rekha and son Rajesh arrived from the US today. ‘‘We wish the strike doesn’t take place. The administration is using all its resources to find Dr Chandra,’’ said Health Minister Sakuni Chaudhary.
Later in the night, the state government declared the proposed strike as illegal and threatened to take action against the doctors under the Essential Services Maintenance Act. It has requested the Centre to airlift at least 500 doctors to keep medical services functioning and asked railways and the Army to provide doctors, Chief Secretary S.N. Biswas said.
