Gorakhpur hospital children death: Dr Kafeel Khan arrested by Uttar Pradesh STF

Dr Kafeel Khan was hailed as a hero before reports suggested that he had allegedly stolen oxygen cylinders from the hospital.

Dr Kafeel Khan accused of negligence in Gorakhpur's BRD hospital tragedy has been arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force. Dr Khan who was hailed as a hero, in the beginning, was soon accused of stealing oxygen cylinders from the hospital leading to the death of infants at Gorakhpur.

The Special Task Force of the Uttar Pradesh police arrested the accused doctor, who was absconding, from his relative's residence early on Saturday morning. The doctor faces charges of negligence as well as financial irregularities. Dr Khan shot to fame after the media reported that he had personally managed to secure oxygen cylinders for BRD medical college on August 11-12 when the hospital was running critically low on oxygen.

24 hours later, in a strange turn of events, Khan was accused of stealing oxygen cylinders from the hospital for his private clinic. He along with six others were named accused in the tragedy. Khan was traced through electronic surveillance and was handed over to Gorakhpur police who are investigating the case.

After allegations of negligence and alleged theft leading to a shortage of oxygen were leveled against him, Khan was removed from all hospital duties. Kafeel Khan was the Nodal Officer of BRD Medical College's Department of Pediatrics. Dr Khan was hailed as a hero when he as Head of the Encephalitis ward, "sprung into action when he received a distress call from the hospital on the intervening night of August 12 and was informed of dwindling oxygen supply needed for his patients."

Dr Khan was also the member of the supplies department that managed stocks and storage of equipment. Khan was also held accountable for not apprising Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath of erratic supply of oxygen cylinders or payments default by the hospital.

The investigators said that Dr Kafeel Khan, on August 11 sent three oxygen cylinders from his clinic to the hospital and had maintained that he had 'borrowed' those. Dr Khan along with former principal of BRD Medical College, Dr Rajiv Mishra and his wife Purnima Shukla were held responsible for the death of infants in the hospital.

OneIndia News