The Hindu : New Delhi News : Kargil hero murdered in West Delhi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Sep 25, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Kargil hero murdered in West Delhi

Staff Reporter

Doctors' negligence led to his death, allege relatives; probe panel set up

NEW DELHI: A retired Naib Subedar, who had been honoured by the Army for his contribution to the Kargil war, was stabbed by some unknown persons at Janakpuri in West Delhi on Friday night. He was rushed to Orchid Hospital where he died allegedly due to negligence of doctors. While efforts are on to identify the culprits, a medical board has been set up to probe the role of the doctors in question.

It all happened around 8-45 p.m. when Kanti Lal Guliyan (47), who worked as a supervisor with M-5 private security agency at Hauz Khas in South Delhi, was on his way to catch a bus to his office. His daughter Preeti said: "My mother was standing outside the house, as there was a power cut in the area, when a person came searching for us. He told that my father was lying in a semi-conscious state near a bus shelter. Subsequently, she along with my uncle, who stays in the neighbourhood, rushed to the place".

Mr. Guliyan was rushed to the nearby Orchid Hospital where, his relatives and neighbours alleged, he was not attended by any doctor for about 45 minutes, despite repeated requests. By the time a doctor arrived to check on him, he had died. As soon as the news about his death spread, his relatives and friends turned violent and broke a computer, windowpanes and furniture of the hospital demanding action against the doctors who were on duty, as they did not react in time. "Had the doctors on duty reacted promptly, he could have been saved," alleged a relative. The protest went on till early hours on Saturday.

The police said Mr. Guliyan had sustained a stab injury in the right leg. "It seems that a vital artery was slashed in the process, which led to excessive bleeding. It is not yet clear whether the incident occurred in or outside a bus. We are interrogating the drivers and the conductors of the buses plying on that particular route to get a clue into the case. As of now, we have not come across any eye-witnesses," said a senior police officer. The police are trying to find out if it was a handiwork of bag-lifters who might have stabbed Mr. Guliyan while trying to snatch his bag.

Preeti, who is a reporter with Jain T.V. channel, said Mr. Guliyan's was the second unit to climb Tiger Hill in the Drass Sector during the Kargil war. "He was honoured with a bravery award on Sena Diwas," she recalled. The Kargil hero, who retired from the Army about 18 months ago, is survived by his daughter, Preeti, son, Nikhil, and wife, Savita.

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