Patient's Murder at Delhi's GTB Hospital Believed to be Case of Mistaken Identity: Police

New Delhi: The killing of a patient inside the national capital's Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital ward could be a case of mistaken identity, as a criminal had been transferred from the same ward just a day before the incident, said police on Monday. The deceased's family members, too, have claimed that the criminal was the original target.

Multiple police teams have been formed to investigate the murder of Riyazuddin (32), who was shot dead by a teenager inside ward number 24 in GTB hospital on Sunday, officials said. Multiple teams of crime branch, a team led by SHO of GTB Enclave police station, and a team comprising personnel of adjoining police stations are investigating the case.

"The teams are checking CCTV footage to know how many people were involved, how many entered the hospital, which vehicle they used, trail of the vehicle and where they fled after crime. We are looking at all possible angles," a senior police officer said.

"The police will nab the accused very soon," the officer added.

According to sources, Riyassuddin was unfortunate because the bed he occupied had previously been occupied by Yasmeen, a person with a criminal record who was reportedly injured by gunshots. The murderers, based on their surveillance, believed the person in the bed to be Yasmeen and mistakenly shot Riyassuddin, a 32-year-old man, thinking he was their target.

Eyewitnesses reported that the assailants were young, of medium height, and not very well built. Around 16:00 hours, two to three unidentified individuals entered the ward, pushed aside the doctor, and began firing at Riyassuddin, resulting in his death.

The victim, who was said to be a dentist, had been admitted to the hospital on June 23 and was undergoing treatment for abdominal infection, according to police.

The police said the murder could be a case of mistaken identity as a criminal of the city's Welcome area was also being treated in ward number 24, but was shifted to another ward a day before the incident.

They added that they have checked the records of Riyassuddin, a resident of Khajuri Khas area, and no criminal background was found against him.

"If it was a case of mistaken identity, we are investigating that angle and can only confirm with the arrest of the accused. Teams have activated their local sources to gather information about the accused and nab them immediately," the police officer said.

Police departments of neighbouring states Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have also been asked to monitor CCTV footage so that the accused can be caught if they attempt to cross the border, the officer added.

GTB Hospital's Resident Doctors start indefinite strike

After the incident, resident doctors of the GTB hospital began an indefinite strike raising serious concerns about their safety. Members of the Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) began the strike at 9 am on Monday but emergency services are operational, said RDA president Nitesh Kumar.

The indefinite strike by the hospital's RDA was announced on Sunday after their long-pending demand of giving doctors ample security allegedly went unheeded by the Delhi government.

"Our repeated appeals for enhanced security have been ignored, culminating in this tragic event (patient's killing). Until the Delhi government ensures a secure environment for everyone within the hospital, we cannot continue our duties," an RDA spokesperson had said earlier.

"The strike will continue until fundamental improvements in security are effectively implemented and communicated," the statement said.

The killing of the patient in the hospital's ward has been condemned by other doctors' bodies as well.

Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj had said, "A security review of all hospitals will be carried out and no negligence will be tolerated."

The Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) has described the incident as a "mafia-like killing."

"The recent incident of violence at GTB Hospital underscores the urgent need for enhanced security measures for our doctors," FORDA president Aviral Mathur had said.