Man shot dead at GTB Hospital in ‘mistaken identity’ case: Two from Hashim Baba gang held, police say their intended target was a rival

The teenager walked in, quietly took out a pistol and allegedly shot Riyazuddin multiple times. Threatening the rest to keep quiet and not scream for help, he bolted the ward’s door from outside and fled. His actual target, however, lay on the other side of the partition.

These details of the daylight shooting at the hospital have been pieced together by the Delhi Police following the arrest of two of the accused on Monday, CCTV footage of cameras located in the gallery and outside the building, as well as eyewitness statements.

The shooter remains on the run. The arrested men are Faiz and Farhaan, both in their 20s, said police.

According to DCP (Shahdara) Surender Chaudhary, the shooter, who remains unidentified, entered through the main emergency entrance while his accomplices lay in wait. The two men who were inside the hospital acted as backup if the shooter got caught.

Citing witness statements, a senior officer police officer said, “The shooter was dressed in a checked shirt and pants while the others were in T-shirts… Prima facie, it appears the shooter did not have any photo of the target; he was only briefed that the man would be lying on bed number 2 in ward number 24 and a female attendant would be with him… the ward is divided by a wooden partition. Instead of going to the right where his original target lay, he entered the left side where Riyazuddin was admitted and fired… three bullets hit the victim in his abdomen while two other bullets were aimed at the doctor on duty and the deceased’s sister.”

Police are ascertaining if the shooter is a juvenile.

The DCP said a case of murder was lodged at GTB Enclave police station based on Tarannum’s complaint. He added the shooter’s actual target claimed he was shot by some persons on June 12 and that he had a previous rivalry with the Hashim Baba gang. He claimed the assailant had come to kill him on Sunday.

The arrests

Following the incident, police obtained the Instagram IDs and call detail records of the four men and then raids were carried out at Laxmi Garden in UP’s Loni. One of the suspects, Faiz was arrested.

The officer said, “The second person, Farhaan, was nabbed from his hideout at Chauhan Banger in Shahdara. During their questioning, the two men claimed that the key conspirator called them to his flat in Babarpur and briefed them about Sunday’s plan — that the shooter had to enter ward number 24, shoot the target within a short period, and flee… Faiz provided the bikes used in the getaway.”

Police added that while the accused persons belonged to the Hashim Baba gang, their target was from the rival Chenu Pehelwan gang. Police said the target has 21 cases lodged against him, including that of snatching, assault, and cases under the Arms Act. On June 21, he sustained injuries after a few men belonging to the Hashim Baba gang attacked him in Northeast Delhi’s Welcome. According to officers, an attempt to assault him was made earlier as well but he escaped.

Police sources added that he has been shifted to another ward and is under the protection of the Delhi Police 3rd Batallion.