Sixth accused in Gorakhpur tragedy arrested, three at large

The sixth accused in the Gorakhpur hospital tragedy was arrested on Tuesday even as three others were still on the run, police said.

Arrested accused Sanjay Tripathi is an Assistant Clerk at the Baba Ram Das Medical College and Hospital, where over 60 children died within weeks in August due to alleged shortage of oxygen supply.

Senior Superintendent of Police Aniruddh Pankaj said Tripathi had provided police some crucial information in the case during questioning. Tripathi would be presented in a court on Wednesday to seek his custody.

Informed sources said many documents crucial to the case were lying locked in office cupboards of such hospital officials and police was likely to take along Tripathi to the hospital campus during the night to retrieve them.

On Monday, Anaesthesia Department head Dr Satish surrendered in a sessions court after getting its permission, which was given after a report from Gulriha police station.

Former hospital college Principal Rajiv Mishra, his wife Dr Purnima, Dr Kafeel Khan, and clerk Sudhir Pandey have already been arrested and are in judicial custody.

In a related development, a court on Tuesday heard a bail application of Dr Purnima, and fixed September 28 for further hearing.

--IANS

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