Junior doctors of Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital take out a march in support of the associate professor, Mritunjay Kumar, in Bhagalpur on Monday. Picture by Amit Kumar

Indian Medical Association on Monday constituted a five-member fact-finding committee to probe into the alleged molestation by a senior doctor of Bhagalpur on October 31.

The association earlier set a Monday deadline to withdraw the FIR lodged against Mritunjay Kumar, associate professor of the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital (JLNMCH) surgery department and owner of a nursing home at Adampur.

It also threatened to paralyse medical services if the FIR lodged by a 22-year-old girl was not withdrawn by Monday.

However, Indian Medical Association (IMA) changed its decision on Sunday evening — maybe accelerated by Madhepura MP Pappu Yadav’s 10km walk from the victim’s house to the district magistrate’s residence to submit a memorandum requesting arrest of the doctor.

Pappu demanded the doctor be arrested within 72 hours else he would sit on fast-unto-death before the district magistrate’s office here. At least 150 people accompanied the RJD MP during his walk on Sunday evening to press for their demand of arresting the doctor.

According to the IMA, Bhagalpur, president D.P. Singh, the five-member fact-finding committee has been constituted with members from different social bodies to investigate the incident. “The committee would submit its report within two-three days to the IMA, Bhagalpur, president and senior policemen,” he said.

Singh also urged the administration to act neutral in taking appropriate step in the episode.

On the other hand, the Junior Doctors’ Association of the JLNMCH took out a march protesting against the molestation allegation from the medical college on Monday. It ended at Ghantaghar Chowk with a human chain to support Mritunjay.

In a related development, Shabana Dawood, convener of Fateh Help Society, which fights for the cause of women, went to Patna on Monday morning to meet former chief minister Nitish Kumar. Shabana, who had apparently received threats on her cellphone from unknown persons for not making much hue and cry, said she would narrate everything to Nitish.

The family members of the victim girl on Monday decided to seek justice from National Commission for Women, New Delhi.

“Since the doctor is an influential person, he has the privilege to enjoy support from the local administration. Earlier, we have the evidence of such cases against the doctor but due to his influence, he managed everything accordingly. But we will not spare him this time,” one of the family members said.

Vivek Kumar, senior superintendent of police, said: “The incident should not be given a political colour and police would not spare anyone found guilty in this case.” Several officers are busy investigating a key case, said a source.