A shocking gang war gripped Bhopal in the early hours of Saturday, March 14, as armed criminals first shot a young man in Ashoka Garden and then followed him all the way into the emergency ward of Hamidia Hospital — firing again inside the hospital premises in full view of patients and attendants.

The Attack Begins at 4:45 AM

The violence began around 4:45 in the morning when Imran Rais, son of local history sheeter Lallu Rais, had stepped out to offer namaz at a mosque near Tiranga Crossing. A group of five armed men — identified as Shadab Gate, Sajib Gate, Shahwar Maulana, Guddu Station, and Anas — waylaid him on his way back.

The attackers chased Imran back to his home in Ashoka Garden and opened fire, hitting him in the leg. Approximately five rounds were fired outside his residence. CCTV cameras in the area captured two of the attackers carrying firearms. Police from Ashoka Garden police station reached the spot, but the assailants had already fled. Empty shells and two live rounds were recovered from the scene.

Criminals Enter Hospital, Fire Inside Emergency Ward

After Imran was rushed to Hamidia Hospital for emergency treatment, the attackers were not done. Shadab Gate and Sajib followed the injured man straight into the hospital's emergency ward, targeting Lallu Rais who had accompanied his son.

A bullet struck a glass window and a wall inside the ward, narrowly missing both Lallu Rais and a security guard stationed nearby. The sudden firing inside a hospital emergency ward sent patients, attendants, and medical staff into a state of complete panic.

Police Response and Investigation

Senior police officer ACP Anil Vajpai confirmed that two separate cases have been registered — one at Ashoka Garden police station and one at Koh-e-Fiza police station. Armed police personnel have been deployed inside the hospital ward as a precautionary measure. CCTV footage from within the hospital and surrounding areas is currently under examination to identify and trace the accused.

A Two-Year-Old Feud Behind the Attack

Lallu Rais stated that this attack was carried out as revenge for a feud dating back to 2024. Two years ago, his son Imran had allegedly attacked Shadab Gate's brother in a separate incident, severing his fingers. Saturday's shooting is being treated as a direct retaliation for that earlier attack.

Hospital Security Under the Spotlight Again

The brazen firing inside Hamidia Hospital has once again raised serious questions about security arrangements at one of Madhya Pradesh's largest and most overcrowded government hospitals. The hospital, which serves not only Bhopal but thousands of patients from surrounding districts, has long faced concerns over inadequate CCTV coverage and insufficient security personnel at entry points and wards.

With 400 CCTV cameras yet to be fully installed across the broader hospital campus as previously flagged by doctors' associations, Saturday's incident has added fresh urgency to demands for a complete overhaul of the hospital's security infrastructure.