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Man Killed at GTB Hospital in ‘Mistaken Identity’ Case: Two Hashim Baba Gang Members Arrested, Police Say Rival Was Target

Around 4 pm on Sunday, a teenager and three others, allegedly from the Hashim Baba gang, arrived at the Delhi government-run GTB Hospital on two bikes. The three accomplices kept watch — one at the entrance to the emergency department, one on the stairs, and the third outside — while the teenager entered the hospital. They were there to carry out a targeted killing. Their intended victim was a rival from the Chenu Pehelwan gang, who was admitted to ward number 24.

The ward, divided by a wooden partition, had six beds with three on either side. On the left side of the ward were a 32-year-old man, Riyazuddin, and his sister, Tarannum Malik. Two other patients and their family members, two to three nurses, and a few staff members were also present. Riyazuddin was recovering from an operation for an abdomen infection performed 15 days earlier.

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

Details of the daylight shooting at the hospital were pieced together by the Delhi Police following the arrest of two of the accused on Monday. These details were corroborated by CCTV footage from cameras in the gallery and outside the building, as well as eyewitness statements. The shooter remains on the run. The arrested men, Faiz and Farhaan, both in their 20s, were apprehended by the police.

According to DCP (Shahdara) Surender Chaudhary, the shooter, who remains unidentified, entered through the main emergency entrance while his accomplices waited nearby. The two men who were inside the hospital acted as backup in case the shooter was caught. Citing witness statements, a senior 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 investigating whether the shooter is a juvenile. The DCP stated that a case of murder was lodged at GTB Enclave police station based on Tarannum’s complaint. He added that the shooter’s actual target claimed he was shot by some persons on June 12 and had a previous rivalry with the Hashim Baba gang. The target asserted that the assailant had come to kill him on Sunday.

Following the incident, police obtained the Instagram IDs and call detail records of the four men and then conducted raids in Laxmi Garden in UP’s Loni, leading to the arrest of one suspect, Faiz. 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. The police said the target has 21 cases lodged against him, including 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 area. According to officers, an earlier attempt to assault him was made 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 Battalion.

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Author:- Apoorva Arora

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