Police said the killing appeared to be a case of mistaken identity as the accused wanted to kill another man who was admitted in a different ward.
Outside the ward at GTB Hospital on Sunday.
(Express File Photo) Outside the ward at GTB Hospital on Sunday.
Both also looked similar.”The official spokesperson of GTB Hospital said security has been beefed up around the hospital campus.
Meanwhile, resident doctors’ association at GTB Hospital have announced an indefinite strike due to safety concerns.
A 32-year-old man, who had been admitted for over a month at GTB Hospital in Dilshad Garden, was shot dead allegedly by an 18-year-old who barged inside the ward as other patients, the doctor on duty, and attendants watched in horror here on Sunday afternoon, police said.
The accused also pointed his gun at the doctor and the sister of the deceased before fleeing the spot, police added.
Police said the killing appeared to be a case of mistaken identity as the accused wanted to kill another man who was admitted in a different ward.
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The deceased was identified as Riyazuddin, a resident of Khajuri Khas, who was admitted on June 23 for treatment for an abdominal infection; he died after receiving around three bullet injuries in his abdomen.
Outside the ward at GTB Hospital on Sunday. (Express File Photo) Outside the ward at GTB Hospital on Sunday. (Express File Photo)
DCP (Shahdara) Surender Chowdhary said a PCR call was received at GTB Enclave Police Station around 4.30pm regarding a case of firing at ward number 24.
An officer said the accused wanted to kill another man but mistook Riyazuddin for him and entered his ward.
Relatives of Riyazuddin said he had undergone an operation for an abdomen infection 15 days ago.
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Commenting on the incident, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “Negligence will not be tolerated. Whoever is guilty will not be spared. Security of all hospitals will be reviewed.”
An officer said that around 4pm, the teenager entered the hospital while two other persons stood guard near the parking. The entrance gate is usually not guarded by security guards, according to staffers.
Said an officer, “Only the main gallery area has security cameras. One person is seen…entering the hospital…the female security guard posted outside the ward had gone out to have lunch 15 minutes before the incident.”
An officer, based on witness statements, said the accused aimed the gun at the sister of the deceased and doctor-on-duty, Dr Isha. The latter bent down, holding the sister along, after which the accused fled the spot.
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An eyewitness said three other patients and their attendants each were present at the time of the incident inside the ward.
The wife of the man who the accused wanted to originally target has sought more security, said an official.
Relatives of Riyazuddin said that he ran a dental clinic in Khajuri Khas until three years ago before taking to alcohol and developing stomach infection later.
A security guard, posted at a ward on the floor where the incident took place, told The Indian Express, “I was sitting on my chair, looking after the ward, when the female security in-charge screamed that someone had entered ward number 24 and shot dead a person…when I reached, the accused had already escaped.”
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According to an officer, “The doctor was dressing up the wound of the victim while his mother had gone to the canteen. His sister Tarannum was attending to him.” The accused was carrying a revolver, added police. He is yet to be arrested. An FIR under relevant sections has been lodged.
An officer said, “It seemed like the accused had been briefed to kill a person who had a female attendant. Both the deceased and the original target had a female attendant, their wife and sister respectively. Both also looked similar.”
The official spokesperson of GTB Hospital said security has been beefed up around the hospital campus.
Meanwhile, resident doctors’ association at GTB Hospital have announced an indefinite strike due to safety concerns. They said emergency services will remain functional while they will not participate in other services.
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Launching an attack on the Lieutenant Governor, Minister Bharadwaj said, “L-G sahab, after your arrival two years ago, the law and order situation in Delhi has gone from bad to worse…Murders in broad daylight in front of CCTV cameras is now becoming a common thing… Delhi Police has been ruined because of political use.”
