Uttar Pradesh: Dr Kafeel Khan arrested for ‘disturbing peace’ at hospital

The suspended pediatrician of BRD Medical College Hospital, Dr Kafeel Khan was arrested by the Bahraich police for allegedly creating a ruckus at the district hospital. He was arrested along with two of his associates, Suraj Pandey and Mahipal Singh. The police also confiscated his car. They were later granted bail.

The hospital was in the news recently after reports surfaced that over 70 children had died in 45 days due to a mysterious fever.

“Police received information that a person entered the hospital and disturbed treatment being given to the patients admitted there. He was also arguing with the doctors. The person was later arrested and introduced himself as Dr Kafeel Khan,” said Superintendent of Police Sabharaj Singh.

“My brother had gone to Bahraich district hospital after he came to know from different sources that several children had died because of an unknown disease. He wanted to know if the deaths were caused due to encephalitis. While he was speaking to the family members of the patients to know the symptoms, a police team arrived and forcibly took him with them,” Khan’s brother Adeel Ahmed Khan said.

His brother had claimed Dr Khan was detained at the guest house of a sugar mill but police did not confirm the place of his detention.

Dr DK Singh, chief medical superintendent of Bahraich district hospital said that 71 children had died in the hospital between August 1 and September 16. Six of the children died of encephalitis, others died due to various other reasons.

“Khan and his associates started questioning the families of the patients in the paediatric department without obtaining any permission from the authorities which created problem in the ward,” Singh added.

Confirming the arrest, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Bahraich, Ajay Pratap said that Khan and his associates were held after the hospital authorities complained against him. They were booked under CrPC section 151 (breach of peace). “However, the court has granted them bail,” said Pratap.

Khan was arrested in September 2017 in connection with the death of over 60 children at BRD Medical College Hospital in Gorakhpur allegedly due to lack of oxygen cylinders. He was released on bail in April 2018.