Guwahati/Shillong, Dec. 26: The ongoing strike by junior doctors in Assam continued today with no signs of a let-up, but doctors in Meghalaya have resumed their duties after the government promised to secure the release of the abducted health official.

Secretary of the Meghalaya Medical Services Association, A. War, today told The Telegraph that they were “happy with the government’s response” in appointing mediators to free district medical and health officer of East Garo Hills, P.N. Bezbaruah, from rebel captivity.

He said the doctors met today after a meeting with chief minister F.A. Khonglam and chief secretary J. Tayeng and decided to call off their indefinite strike, which began on Monday. “We are satisfied with the way the government has reacted. Apart from the assurance to rescue the doctor, it has also promised to look into the security of medical practitioners in the troubled areas,” War said.

In contrast, the Federation of Junior Doctors of Assam has decided to march from the Gauhati Medical College Hospital to Janata Bhawan tomorrow to register their protest against the indifference of the government. It will take out similar processions in Silchar and Dibrugarh. Senior doctors are attending to patients in the three medical colleges of Assam.

The federation will submit a memorandum to chief minister Tarun Gogoi listing the doctors’ grievances. “We have received a written assurance from the health department but are not willing to accept it. We were given a similar assurance two years ago but nothing came of it,” a spokesman for the federation said.

Junior doctors in Assam have been demanding better amenities in all the medical colleges and the lone dental college, implementation of the senior residency scheme and regularisation of their stipend.

It has already submitted memoranda to health minister Bhumidhar Barman and Union minister of health and family welfare Shatrughan Sinha on these demands.

In Meghalaya, negotiations are on with the banned Garo Hills-based outfit A’chik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) to release Bezbaruah, who was abducted on December 19 while he was on his way home from office.

The district council member of Wiliamnagar, Maham Singh, is said to have made some breakthrough using “certain village contacts” to talk to the ANVC.

Meghalaya mining and geology minister Debora Marak, who also represents Williamnagar, said over phone that the situation in the district was “extremely tense. We are trying our best to secure his release,” she said.

Marak, who was asked by the government to make possible attempts to release Bezbaruah, said some contacts might have been established. “Our district council member is on the job and we hope to have some results soon,” she said.