Patna surgeon rescued, doctors' strike called off

PATNA: Kidnapped neuro-surgeon Dr Ramesh Chandra was rescued early on Wednesday morning, prompting the Indian Medical Association (IMA) to call off its state-wide strike and the NDA its Patna bandh. Chandra was rescued by the police from Chiraura village under Naubatpur police station in the suburbs of Patna barely hours before the doctors were to go on an indefinite strike paralysing health care services across Bihar.State Director General of Police D P Ojha said Chandra was abducted by a gang patronised by Samata Party MLA from Piro Sunil Pandey. The kidnappers had demanded a ransom of Rs 1 crore for Chandra's release, but he was rescued without paying any money, Ojha said. Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Sunil Kumar told reporters at the Kotwali police station in Patna that five-six kidnappers had been arrested. Some firearms and three vehicles used by the abductors have also been seized. Chandra was kidnapped from near his residence in Mithapur locality of the state capital on Saturday night when he was returning home after dinner at the residence of former Bihar IMA president Dr Ajay Kumar. "We have decided to call off our agitation in view of the release of Chandra," IMA State General Secretary Dr Sahajadanan said, adding all district units were being informed about the decision. Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly Sushil Kumar Modi said the NDA's Patna bandh was also withdrawn following the release of the doctor, but agitation against "the government's failure to check spiralling crime graph, particularly kidnapping for ransom" would continue. The Indian Federal Democratic Party of independent Purnia MP Rajesh Ranjan, alias Pappu Yadav, which had given a separate call for Patna bandh also called off its stir. Speaking to reporters at the Kotwali police station, a visibly tired Chandra said he was thankful to the police for his rescue but refused to speak about circumstances of his kidnapping and how he was treated by his abductors. IG (Patna zone) A C Verma SSP Sunil Kumar and city police Superintendent O N Bhaskar met Chandra at the police station before he was sent home under police escort. "I am too tired to talk about details of my kidnapping and how I was treated by my captors," Chandra told reporters at his home where a host of his relatives and neighbours had gathered on hearing news of his safe release.