Man killed in Indore hospital, but he may not have been target

Wearing an apron, the killer walked unchecked into the third-floor surgical ward of M Y Hospital, the biggest government hospital in Madhya Pradesh, around 4.30 am, and pulled the trigger on Ramdayal. Ramdayal had been charged with murder in 2012.

Jitendra alias JD had allegedly killed one Pintu Thakor, the owner of a restaurant in Indore’s Banganga locality, in 2013. He had been admitted to the hospital for surgery for ulcers.

“Jitendra told us that he was the target because he had received threats in connection with the murder,” ACP, Sayongitaganj, S M Zaidi, told The Indian Express.

Jitendra had been moved to another bed — No. 12 — after he complained of a foul smell coming from a bed close to the one that he had originally been assigned to. Jitendra, Ramdayal and one more prisoner were among the 20 patients in the ward when the killer walked in.

The report of the weapon woke them up, and most thought an LPG cylinder had exploded. After the killing, Jitendra expressed fear for his life, and was moved back to jail.

A couple of jail guards were on duty in the ward, but were unable to apprehend the killer. Police said they have long demanded a separate ward for undertrials that would facilitate better supervision. The general ward, where they are kept, is accessed freely by the relatives of other patients.

DIG (Indore) Rakesh Gupta said the murder could have been the result of a mistaken identity, but police were investigating all angles.