RTI reply clears Dr Kafeel; revealed Yogi govt admits to oxygen shortage

GORAKHPUR: 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.

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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.

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