Rohtak, May 19
Two persons were killed and two others injured when an unidentified armed youth opened fire in the emergency ward of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) here late last night.

Those killed include a security guard of the PGIMS. The assailant and his accomplices fled in two vehicles parked at the main gate of the hospital after committing the crime even though a police patrol vehicle was parked a few metres from the spot.

The incident took place around 11.20 pm when doctors and other staff were busy treating a patient, who had received bullet injuries in a firing incident that took place near Shamlo Kalan village in Jind district. It is claimed that an armed youth entered the ward in which the victim, Jaibhagwan (26), was being treated and opened fire at him in a bid to kill him. While one of the bullets hit Jaibhagwan, two other persons - Sanjivan (27) attendant of Jaibhagwan, and Pravin Kumar (32), attendant of another patient, also received bullet injuries. Pravin died on the spot, while Sanjivan survived the attack.

The assailant rushed towards the main gate in a bid to flee, but was confronted by a security guard, Tejvir (28). As no bullet was left in the criminal’s revolver, he was handed over another gun by one of his accomplices standing near the gate and the assailant opened fire at the guard, said eyewitnesses and the hospital staff.

The guard received three bullets and succumbed to his injuries within half an hour.

“The condition of Jaibhagwan, who was the main target of the assailant and who received at least five bullet injuries (four in the earlier incident), is stable though he has been admitted to the ICU,” said Dr CS Dhull, Director of the PGIMS.

Jaibhagwan, a liquor contractor, was injured in a firing incident that took place in Jind earlier and had been referred here. The assailants  reportedly had enmity with him and had come to the hospital to eliminate him.

Following the incident, the security staff and Class IV employees of the institute went on strike, seeking proper security arrangements.

A compensation of Rs 5 lakh has been announced by the authorities to next-of-kin of the deceased security guard and a job to one of his family members. The police has suspended four cops who were on patrol duty at the hospital last night.

A doctor had been beaten up by attendants of a patient last month at the emergency ward of the hospital, which led to a strike by doctors.

The local police in a statement issued this evening claimed that a quarrel had taken place between Jaibhagwan and Parveen, earlier in Jind district which resulted in firing and injuries to Jaibhagwan. In that incident, Jai Bhagwan named Parveen as an accused on suspicion.

Meanwhile, Sanjay, brother of Parveen was injured in a road accident. Parveen brought his brother to the PGIMS Rohtak, where Jaibhagwan was already admitted. Jaibhagwan’s brother Sanjeevan, along with three other persons, was waiting outside the emergency ward. The firing took place after the arrival of Parveen to the PGIMS.

In the firing, Parveen was killed. When the assailant tried to escape, the security guard tried to catch him and he was also fired at and he too died on the spot. Though Sanjeevan is alleged to have been fired upon and is being given treatment here, he was also being questioned by the police on suspicion because three persons with Sanjeevan had fled the scene. It is stated that they escaped in a white Swift desire car. The owners of another car have been identified and they are being questioned. In all probability, it seems to be a case of murder due to business enmity, said the SSP Satish Balan.