The state's medical fraternity is up in arms against an alleged extortion threat to a doctor, who was asked to cough up Rs 2 crore.

The victim, Dr Sunil Kumar, lodged a complaint with Agamkuan police station on Saturday.

The state chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) voiced its concern over the incident and has decided to hold a meeting on Monday.

"We are holding a meeting on Monday to discuss the issue related to frequent attacks on doctors across the state in recent times," IMA state president Sachchidanand Kumar said.

Sunil, who runs his clinic on the Old Bypass Road near Kumhrar, had received a letter through post on Friday.

The letter purportedly written by one Ashok Kumar Yadav had demanded Rs 2 crore as extortion money and threatened him with dire consequences if he defied the diktat.

To his utter surprise, the sender of the letter had also pasted his photograph and mentioned two cellphone numbers.

The letter, a copy of which is with The Telegraph, revealed that the extortionist was allegedly working for incarcerated Independent MLA from Mokama Anant Singh. "If the money is not paid within a week, be ready to face the consequences," the letter stated.

Sunil immediately contacted then Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Vikas Vaibhav, who provided him a security guard and ordered the Agamkuan police to initiate action against the alleged extortionist. Subsequently, a case was lodged against one Ashok Kumar Yadav, a resident of Anandpur village near Bihta in Patna rural.

During investigation, it came to the fore that the letter had been written by one Lalan Mohan Rai, a resident of Bihta, to drag Ashok into legal wrangling. "He (Rai) wanted to settle his personal score with Ashok and subsequently he sent the threat letter to the doctor," additional director-general (ADG), headquarters, Sunil Kumar said.

Acting on the basis of information provided by Ashok, the driver of the commandant of the homeguards based at Bihta, Rai was arrested on Sunday. "He will be sent to jail after interrogation," the ADG (headquarters) added.

On the other hand, the state branch of the IMA criticised the police for its failure to check the crime against the members of the medical fraternity.

"Similar incidents were reported earlier from Araria, Gopalganj and Patna (Phulwarisharif). But no action had been taken against the offenders," lamented Harihar Dixit, general secretary, IMA.

IMA member and general secretary of the Bihar Superannuated Doctors' Association, Dr Ajay Kumar, demanded implementation of Bihar Medical Service Institution and Person Protection Act, 2011. "The act talks about proper security for medical practitioners. But the provisions have not been implemented in the state, leaving the doctors in a lurch," he added.

IMA state president Sachchidanand Kumar, however, clarified that the association was not in favour of giving a call for agitation right now. "We don't want to go on strike. But we want the government's intervention to ensure security to both the life and property of doctors across the state, he said.