Karnal, July 7: The police on Sunday claimed to have cracked the murder case of a renowned doctor of the city and MD of Amritdhara Hospital, Dr Rajiv Gupta, who was shot dead by three unidentified motorcycle-borne youths in Sector 16 on Saturday evening.
A former employee of the hospital, along with his two accomplices, has been arrested in this connection. The police have also detained six persons.
Karnal Range Inspector General Yogendra Nehra said they had questioned 15 likely suspects.
IG Nehra identified the main suspect in the case as Pawan Dahiya, a former employee. Dahiya had been fired from his job at Amritdhara Hospital in December 2018, he said.
Dahiya is from Padha village and had worked at the hospital for 10 years before his dismissal.
The IG said the police found two abandoned pistols at the Uttar Pradesh border.
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who visited the hospital, called the incident unfortunate, and said to the press waiting outside the hospital that the police had made some arrests.
“Investigation is ongoing,” he said, and repeated appeals to doctors to resume their work.
The incident had taken place around 6.30 pm on Saturday, when Dr Gupta was going to his new Amritdhara hospital at ITI Chowk from the old Amritdhara hospital in Chora Bazaar in his SUV with driver Sahil.
Three motorcycle-borne miscreants suddenly came in front of the SUV and forced the driver to stop vehicle. As per eyewitnesses, they fired thrice and Dr Gupta, who was sitting in the front seat, received two bullets. After the firing, the assailants managed to escape from the crime scene.
As per eyewitnesses, the assailants were wearing masks and shot the doctor from point blank range.
Dr Gupta got unconscious and the driver rushed him to the hospital with the help of locals, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Dr Gupta was a social worker and was associated with various organisations of the city.
Meanwhile, to lodge a protest against the incident, all OPDs at local hospitals will remain closed on Sunday.
