Delhi GTB Hospital Shooting: Actual target had asked for protection, says brother of victim

Delhi GTB Hospital Shooting: Seated inside a dark clinic which usually helps the residents of Khajuri overcome their dental and visual concerns, the family of the victim in the Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital shootout remains in mourning. The lights inside Islam Dental and Eye Care Centre remain switched off as the entire family awaits justice to be done to their dead brother and son. 

Earlier on July 14, Sunday, Riyazuddin Malik was shot dead inside ward No. 24 of GTB Hospital where it was disclosed that the murder was caused by a case of mistaken identity. Accordingly, the police disclosed that the assailants had actually infiltrated the hospital to kill another patient who was affiliated with a gang. However, owing to some confusion, Malik lost his life. 

When the 18-year-old assailant entered the ward, Riyazuddin’s sister, Tarannum, was tending to his surgical wounds. Following which they opened fire on the patient resulting in his death, not knowing that they hit the wrong target, according to the police.

Also Read: Delhi: 32-year-old patient shot dead inside GTB Hospital

The death also severely affected the sister. Patriot learnt from the Malik family that Tarannum continues to be in a state of shock. Presently, they are running from pillar to post looking for some closure from the authorities. Reyisuddin Malik, 30, the brother of Riyazuddin disclosed that he was warned by the actual target of the shootout that there was danger lingering about them. 

“The actual target was admitted a day or two after my brother. He had the same condition but was admitted a floor above. One day I spoke with his partner, noticing the tattoo on her hand and then we gradually started to speak more often. She said that they had asked for additional security since their life was under threat but apparently, they were not paid heed to by the doctors,” he said. 

He added that it was through sheer negligence that his brother died. 

According to the 30-year-old, the family of the deceased 35-year-old comprised his wife and his two children, a daughter aged eight and a boy aged 12. 

However, now they have to help themselves through the tragedy. On the other hand, Riyazuddin was the eldest of the three brothers while Reyisuddin, the middle child, has one child and a young er brother, Faeemuddin, 28, with all of them maintaining the dental and eye clinic. 

The 30-year-old said that Riyazuddin used to have a shop nearby, around the Ramlila Maidan at Shri Ram Colony in Khajuri. 

“He used to help people with dental problems in his shop but after some time he stopped going to work. Eventually, he closed his shop and a little later, his wife left him,” he said. 

He added that his elder brother had been unemployed ever since and mostly stuck around to sati ate his marijuana addiction.

Before being admitted to the hospital, the father of two had left his home at A-Block in Khajuri to live with his sister and brother at the Ramlila Park residence. 

Reyisuddin has been staying at the A-Block residence ever since he moved. He disclosed that his older brother had taken to mari juana which eventually led to a stomach infection.

Also Read: Delhi: Resident doctors at GTB Hospital on indefinite strike after patient killed inside ward

“First, we had admitted him to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital where he got better and then, after a period of around three months, he said that his stomach felt strange. Following this we took him to GTB and admitted him there. He was admitted on June 22, almost a month ago, and his second operation at the hospital was a success and he would have been discharged any time soon,” said Reyisuddin.

He added that during his recovery period, Riyazuddin would not move an inch to perform any task. “The doctors had said that he had to move around a bit to recover completely but he was so scared, he had stopped moving altogether,” he said. 

On the day of the shooting, Reyisuddin had just left the ward and within 15 minutes, his sister, Tarannum, had called him up to tell him that he was saved by a whisker. 

“My sister called me up and told me that I was saved because if I would have been there, nobody knows what might have happened. I should not have left,” he grimaced. 

Presently, the police are yet to identify the shooter but have already apprehended two suspects in the case, Faiz and Farhan.

Also Read: Delhi Hospital Shooting: One more accused arrested

According to the police, they were functioning under the orders of Faheem alias Badshah Khan, a member of the Hasim Baba gang. He is a resident of Loni in Uttar Pradesh. 

The two children of Riyazuddin have been living with their mother, Heena, since they separated a few years ago.