Within hours of the Indian Medical Association’s threat to go on a strike if there was no response from the Assam government, Dispur has decided to set up a fast-track court to investigate into the killing of Dr Deben Dutta.

The government has instituted an inquiry and asked the commissioner and secretary to the finance department, Shyam Jagannathan, to inquire into the killing.

On Wednesday, chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal talked to the wife of the slain doctor over phone. He condemned the killing and said that law would take its own course. He said strict action would be taken against those who took law into their hands.

IMA’s national president Santanu Sen had earlier asked Sonowal to give an assurance that the persons involved in lynching of the doctor would be punished within 24 hours failing which it would go on a strike. Police have arrested 31 people till now.

Sen, who is a Rajya Sabha MP of the Trinamul Congress, along with four IMA members visited Dutta’s family at their Jagduar Tiniali residence in Teok town on Wednesday morning. The killing of Dutta has evoked condemnation from all quarters — both national and international.

The IMA is the only national voluntary organisation which looks after the interests of doctors.

“If Sonowal does not come out with a statement on action taken against the killers, doctors in Assam will go on a strike that will affect emergency services too,” Sen told the media in Jorhat. He said the killers should not be released on bail.

“The government is yet to give its opinion on the issue. The IMA will take action based on what the government has to say on incidents of violence perpetrated on the medical fraternity at frequent intervals,” Sen added.

Sen told the media that additional deputy commissioner Subhan Gowala, who is the investigating officer, should be replaced if he was siding with the culprits.

The IMA chief said the association had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, home minister Amit Shah and Sonowal, underlining an urgent need for a central law to check violence against health professionals.

“In Parliament, I had raised the demand for a central act. If the government does not take any positive step, doctors across the country will go on indefinite ceasework and the Centre will have to remain prepared for the consequences,” Sen said.

The secretary of the Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS), Mangaldoi branch, Santiuse Kujur, exhorted workers of 24 tea gardens under its jurisdiction to hold condolence prayers and light candles for Dr Dutta on Wednesday evening. “We never encourage such incidents of violence,” Kujur said.

Cabinet minister Keshab Mahanta had visited the residence of the deceased on Tuesday. Minister of state for health Pijush Hazarika condemned the incident. On Wednesday, BJP MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa visited the house of the deceased and later told reporters that Sonowal and health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma were closely monitoring the case.