A 55-year-old doctor was shot dead at a private nursing home in Jaitpur, Delhi, last night, marking a disturbing incident just two months after the tragic rape-murder of a 31-year-old doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

According to staff at Nima Hospital, two teenagers arrived late at night, one seeking a dressing change for an injured toe. After being treated the night before, they asked for a prescription and entered Dr. Javed Akhtar’s cabin, a practitioner of Unani Medicine.

Shortly thereafter, nursing staff Gajala Parveen and Md Kamil heard a gunshot. They rushed to the doctor’s cabin and found him bleeding from a gunshot wound to the head. Initial reports suggest the suspects may be around 16 or 17 years old.

Police are treating this as a targeted killing, noting that the teenagers’ prior visit might have been a reconnaissance mission. Investigators are currently examining CCTV footage from the hospital to identify the assailants.

This incident comes on the heels of the Kolkata tragedy, which prompted widespread protests by medical professionals advocating for enhanced safety measures. In response to those concerns, the Supreme Court has formed a National Task Force to explore ways to ensure the safety of healthcare workers.

The shooting has also given the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) a platform to criticize the Central Government and Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena regarding the deteriorating law and order situation in the capital. AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj stated, “Delhi has become a crime capital, with gangsters operating freely, extortion calls, and daily shootings. The Central Government and @LtGovDelhi have failed in their fundamental responsibilities for the safety of Delhi.”