LUCKNOW, April 14 -- A 40-year-old fertiliser trader was allegedly killed during a violent clash outside a private hospital in Gonda district on Sunday night when he went to mediate a dispute involving his nephew and another ward boy over a duty shift, police said. "The incident took place around 11 pm at the gate of New Medi Life Hospital on Baggi Road under the Dhanepur police station limits," said Shilpa Verma, Sadar circle officer (CO). Police said the deceased, Anand Pandey, reached the hospital after a dispute broke out between his nephew, Satyaprakash Shukla, 25, and his colleague, Anupam Shukla, 26, both working as ward boys. "The argument reportedly began over duty shift and incomplete sterilisation work, escalating from a WhatsApp exchange into a physical confrontation. Satyaprakash Shukla had a night shift and had gone home in the morning. When the accused joined in the morning, he put up a message in the group accusing missing bandage and other medical stuff which led to their argument," Verma said. As tensions escalated, both sides allegedly called their relatives to the spot, leading to a clash outside the hospital premises. During the incident, Satyaprakash's mother was also injured. "In the heat of the fight, the accused allegedly brought a knife from inside the hospital and attacked Anand Pandey, slitting his throat," said Arvind Singh, SHO, Dhanepur police station. "He was rushed for treatment but died," he added. Police said the accused fled the scene after the incident. Anil Ojha, hospital operator, said the two employees had earlier been sent home after the dispute but returned later and resumed fighting outside the facility. He denied any role, claiming he tried to intervene and informed the police. The victim's family, however, alleged that Pandey was denied immediate treatment at the hospital after the attack. The CO said two accused have been taken into custody and are being interrogated. Police have registered a case against five named accused, including Anupam Shukla and the hospital operator, along with four unidentified persons. The body has been sent for postmortem examination and further investigation is underway....