The Siasat Daily: Gorakhpur: Wednesday, August 15, 2018.
An RTI query
reveals that Dr. Kafeel Khan, who was allegedly held responsible for the deaths
of 60 children in the BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur last year actually
arranged for oxygen cylinders to save lives of infants.
According to
a report published in News 18, the RTI response dated April 19, 2018, also
revealed that Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government admits to the
reality of a shortage of oxygen on the night of August 11, 2017, and accepted
that Dr. Kafeel, the then nodal officer arranged six oxygen cylinders from
other hospitals and managed to get four oxygen cylinders on his own.
The RTI query
corroborates the stand of Dr. Kafeel and claimed that the UP government
strongly denied all the reports to hide their monumental administrative
failure.
“The same
administration now admits through RTI query that Dr. Kafeel had brought four
oxygen cylinders to help the children who were in distress,” said Lucknow-based
activist Sanjay Sharma.
Dr. Kafeel, a
pediatrician and was in-charge of the encephalitis ward of BRD Medical College
was hailed as ‘hero’ of the country for saving the lives but was branded a
villain after he goes against the UP administration.
He was among
nine, who were accused of deaths and was booked under Sections 120-B, 308 and
409 of the IPC.
Dr. Kafeel
spends nearly 8 months in jail in connection with the death of infants. He was
granted bail on April 24, 2018, by the Allahabad High Court.