Rural Child Health (RCH) Officer Dr Ram Bachhan Chaudhary, abducted from his clinic on Thursday evening, was found dead near Shahi Toli dam under Raidih police station in Gumla on Sunday. Sources in the police department confirmed that Chaudhary was apparently strangled to death before being dumped near the dam by the abductors after they did not get any positive response to their demand for ransom. A ransom of Rs50 lakh had been demanded by some unknown persons from Chaurdhary's wife Dr Nirmala Chaudhary over phone.
Choudhary, in 50s, was kidnapped after he returned to his private clinic from the Chief Minister's programme in Gumla. Chief Minister Raghubar Das had gone there on Thursday to take part in 'School Chale Chalayen Abhiyan' programme of which Choudhary was a part of the health team deputed for him. Baffled over the brutal murder of their colleague, Jharkhand Chapter of Indian Medical Association, registering their protest demanded the CM to take moral responsibility for Chaudhary's murder besides, ensuring security of the doctors and arresting of all those involved in this brutal murder.
"Since, the incident took place just after the CM's programme during which the area was turned into a high security zone, he must take full moral responsibility for the murder of Dr Chaudhary," said former national vice-president of IMA Ajay Kumar Singh. "If our own life is at risk, from where the dedication will come from," questioned Singh. Singh further added that if the situation persists, none of them will continue to work in this State and will prefer to go to some other State which can provide security to their lives and properties.
Coming down on heavily on the district police, Singh alleged that the system in the State was on the verge of collapse. "The police kept on misleading for the last four days which was sitting idle and did nothing to ensure Chaudhary's rescue," claimed Singh. The family members, however, claimed that Chaudhary was killed even though the ransom was paid to the abductors on Sunday. "The deal was finalised on Rs 5 lakh over phone, but we were made to travel from Hazaribagh to latehar and then to Satbarwa to Betla and finally asked to leave the money at a bus stop. When we asked about Chaudhary, they said that he will be released at DSP road in Gumla," said Chaudhary's nephew Amit Kumar.
Kumar also alleged that the abductors had all information regarding the conversation which took place between them and the police officials related to Chaudhary during the period. The police, on the other hand, have succeeded in arresting two persons so far, one from Ratu in Ranchi while the other from Dakra colliery, while the other three accused are still at large. One Bolero has also been recovered from their possession.
"Chaudhary was abducted on the pretext of treating a patient following which, the family members started receiving ransom calls from some unknown people. While the police were pursuing the case on solid leads, in between we got information that body has been found in the jungles of Raidih. After cross checking it, we found that the body was of Dr Chaudhary who has been strangled to death a few hours back," said Gumla SP Bheemsen Tuti. According to the SP, there were no fault in the working of the police and the reasons for killing Dr Chaudhary could only be disclosed after the culprits get arrested.
Tuti, however, claimed that the police have very solid leads on the basis of which they will soon nab the culprits. Meanwhile, the CM expressing his anguish over the incident summoned ADG Headquarters Ajay Bhatnagar and Ranchi Zone IG Suman Gupta directing them to take immediate action. The CM also asked them to ensure the arrest of the other three culprits after making special teams for the purpose.
According to the clinic staff, two persons came on a scooter around 4:30 pm on Thursday urging Choudhary to visit an ailing patient at home and took him away with them after which he was never returned. Chaudhary's wife, who is also a Government doctor posted in Sahebganj, received a ransom call where the abductors had asked for Rs 50 lakh for Choudhary's safe release. An FIR lodged by the police in this regard also stated that some unidentified men came to Chaudhary's house on April 30 asking him to accompany them for treatment of a patient at home. But he did not return after that.
Even though, several raids were conducted in different locations for four days, the police could not succeed in making Chaudhary's rescue, was later found dead. The situation of health services in the State may deteriorate further after the recovery of Chaudhary's body as more than 1,600 doctors in the State have threatened to go on strike if the police fail to arrest those responsible for the killing. Health services in Gumla, however, remained stalled throughout the day both on Sunday and Monday. Family members of Chaudhary, along with the other fellow doctors and medical staff, protested before Sadar Hospital in Gumla on Monday not letting the body of Chaudhary to be investigated for several hours.