PATNA, July 18 -- A convicted prisoner was shot dead by armed assailants inside a hospital private ward here on Thursday, police said. The incident took place in Shastri Nagar police station area near Raja Bazar around 7.30am, where the assailants entered the victim's room and fired multiple bullets before fleeing the scene. Police have claimed to have identified one of the five shooters Tausheef Badsaah alias Badsaah, a resident of Gulistan mohalla under Phulwarisharief police station area, who led the shooters involved in killing. A joint team of STF and Patna police raided his house and interrogated his mother to find his whereabout. A senior police official neither denied nor confirmed his arrest. He, however, hinted that police were 'near the shooters.' CCTV footage of the hospital captured five shooters pulling out their guns, opening the cabin's door and then escaping. All the youngsters, without even covering their faces, casually walk into the patient's room. Seconds later, four of them rush out while the fifth assailant saunters out of the cabin, the footage shows. The incident has brought back the memory of the sensational murder of former RJD leader and then science and technology minister Brij Bihari Prasad in 1998 on the premises of IGIMS when gunmen walked into the hospital and fled after shooting him dead. Patna SSP Kartikey K Sharma said the deceased had been identified as Chandan Mishra alias Chandan (36), a history sheeter of Shahabad range. The police have recovered multiple bullet shells from the crime scene. "Chandan Mishra, who was on parole, was admitted to Paras Hospital for treatment. He was shot by unidentified assailants inside the hospital," said the SSP, adding the police had identified the assailants involved in the crime More than 10 security personnel and bouncers of the hospital had been detained for interrogation. Police said preliminary investigation suggested the patient was killed in a gang war. Chandan had got parole for piles surgery. Police would also investigate his medical treatment inside the hospital. The victim was associated with interstate gold robber and gangster Sheru Singh. He was also involved in real estate business. After conviction, he purchased many disputed lands at the Industrial police station area in Buxar. "Prima facie, it seems to be an instance of targeted killing and was carried out after recce," IG Jitendra Rana said. "Police are analysing footage from CCTV cameras installed inside the facility's reception, exit/entry gates, and gallery," he added. Chandan was arrested from Kolkata by STF in 2014 and forwarded to Buxar central jail, from where he was shifted to Bhagalpur central jail. Chandan, a resident of Buxar district, faces over 25 criminal cases, of which 12 were registered with Industrial and Town police stations of Buxar district alone in 2011. He was released from Beur central jail recently on a 15 days parole for treatment, which was set to end on July 18. Chandan was a terror in Buxar, facing life sentence in a murder case of trader Rajendra Keshri in 2011. The trial court had given him death, but on February 12, 2020 Patna HC converted the sentence to life imprisonment along with his associate Sheru Singh. Meanwhile, Bihar police DGP Vinay Kumar wondered how the shooters brandishing pistols could walk through the corridor and enter a room on the second floor without being interrupted by any security personnel, though normally hospital has security staff deputed on every floor. "Whenever I have also visited the hospital, I have seen security staff doing the normal frisking. Now, there will be a security audit of all prominent hospitals in the state to prevent any such recurrence," he added. Terming the incident 'unfortunate', the DGP said, "This is a matter of concern and we will review the security system of the hospital, why it happened and who was on duty and draw attention of the management." The police chief further said various measures were being taken to control crime. "If we compare crime rates over time, around 2004, approximately four atrocities occurred daily. Since then, the number of murders has gradually decreased. Last year, around 2,700 murders were reported, a reduction of about 1,300 compared to 2004. In July 2024, 49 murders occurred in Patna while 14 murders were reported till July 15, 2025," he said. The number of murders has seen a rise in the last few weeks. At least 13 non-related killings were reported in a week from July 7 to 13. These included a lawyer, a teacher, businessmen, and a government employee, among others. LoP Tejashwi Yadav questioned the Bihar government. In a post on X, Tejashwi wrote, "Government criminals stormed into the ICU and shot dead a patient admitted to the hospital. Is anyone safe anywhere in Bihar? Has this happened before 2005?"...