Junior doctors of Indira Gandhi institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, have threatened to go on strike if action is not taken against cops who allegedly thrashed them and demanded release of four students who were arrested following Wednesday's incident.

The medics, who had earlier planned to go on strike from Thursday decided to postpone the move for the time being. They claimed that medical students have decided not to go on strike in the larger interest of patients.

Ankit Kumar, a medical student of the 2013-14 batch, said: "We had planned to go on strike, but keeping the interest of patients in mind we have postponed our strike call. Our main demand is release of our batchmate. The Patna police on Wednesday arrested four medical students - Prince Singh, Ashraf Raja, Arshad Naseem and Aditya Kumar after they manhandled a traffic policeman posted at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Science (IGIMS) entrance gate when he stopped two students who were riding a two-wheeler without a helmet."

The students claimed that the brawl started after police thrashed the students.

Gaurav Kumar, another medical student, said: "We have written letters to our director N.R. Biswas and health secretary R.K. Mahajan urging them for release of our four friends." Meanwhile, health minister Tej Pratap said: "We are looking into the matter. Action will be taken against those found guilty."

A case under sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 307 (attempt to murder) has been lodged against them, police said. The police have sent the four students to jail on Wednesday and today they were to be produced before the court. Shastri Nagar police station house officer (SHO) Virendra Yadav said: "The youths were sent to jail on Wednesday evening and today they were produced in court. Bail has not been granted."

The medical students claimed that if students are not released from jail soon, it will hamper their career. According to medical students, if a medical student has an FIR against him/her, he or she is barred from joining army medical service and faces problem while going to foreign countries for studies.

The IGIMS was established on 19th November 1983, as an autonomous organisation on the pattern of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. The hospital every day has footfalls of around 3,000 patients in the OPD.

Sources said there are around 1,000 doctors including senior residents and junior doctors looking after the affairs of hospital. Meanwhile, as precautionary measures large number of police personnel was deployed at IGIMS to prevent any untoward incident. The medical facilities at IGIMS continued as usual without any hurdles.