Nitish orders transfer of IG (jail), Gopalganj DM shifted

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Heads began to roll in Bihar following the killing of a doctor by jail inmates with chief minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday ordering the transfer of inspector general (Jail) and Gopalganj district magistrate.

Kumar wielded the stick acting swiftly on the report of principal secretary (home) Amir Subhani who inquired into Sunday's shocking incident on Monday.

Health services meanwhile were partially affected across the state with about 2,600 government doctors under the banner of Bihar State Health Services Association (BSHSA) launching boycott of hospital work for 24 hours from 6 00 AM on Tuesday against the killing of their colleague Bhuddhadev Singh at Gopalganj jail on Sunday night.

The family members of the doctor also demanded a CBI inquiry into the killing.

General administration department sources told PTI that Anand Kishore would be new IG (Jail) replacing Ramesh Lal while Pankaj Kumar will take over as the DM of Gopalganj from Pankaj Kumar Pal.

Nitish Kumar announced an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the family of the victim.

He also made it clear that no legislation can be enacted in a haste in the context of the demand by BSHSA that the state government immediately enact a law — Medical Professionals Protection Act — on the lines of 12 other states, including Andhra Pradesh and ensure adequate security to doctors on duty.

"The strike is total with doctors turning up to the hospitals but boycotting the hospital work," BSHSA general secretary Ajay Kumar and secretary Ranjit Kumar said.

Official sources however said the strike was "partial".

Nitish Kumar admitted there was a "serious lapse" on the part of the jail administration.

"It is a serious lapse on the part of the jail administration. There are several flaws cited in the inquiry report," Kumar told reporters.

"I have taken the matter seriously and acted tough on the basis of the inquiry report of the principal secretary (home) Amir Subhani into the killing of the doctor in Gopalganj jail by inmates," he said.

Kumar said the state government would provide a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to bereaved family of the deceased. "The state government will also ensure full salary to widow of the doctor upto the age he would have retired had he not died in harness," he said.