The murder of a patient inside Delhi's Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital ward could be a case of mistaken identity as a criminal had been shifted from the same ward only a day before the incident occurred, said the police on Monday. The family members of the deceased have also claimed that the criminal was the original target.
Officials said that multiple 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, reported PTI.
As per the police, the murder could be a case of mistaken identity as a criminal of the city's Welcome area was also being treated in the same ward number 24 but was later shifted to another ward a day before the incident.
"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.
The police also said that they had checked the records of Riyazuddin, a resident of Khajuri Khaas, and found no criminal background against me, as per the PTI report.
A team led by the SHO of GTB Enclave police station, a team comprising personnel of adjoining police stations, and multiple teams of crime branch are probing the incident.
"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 officer said that the police will nab the accused soon.
The victim, who was said to be a dentist, was admitted to the hospital on June 23 and was undergoing treatment for an adominal infection, said the police.
Resident Doctors Stage Protest
Following the murder, the resident doctors at the hospital began an indefinite strike on Monday citing safety concerns following the brazen killing of a patient inside a ward of the hospital.
The strike began at 9 am by the members of the Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) but emergency services are operational, RDA president Nitesh Kumar told PTI.
"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.