Warrants against seven over Gorakhpur deaths

Non-bailable warrants (NBW) were on Friday issued by a court in Gorakhpur against Kafeel Khan and six others in connection with the death of over 60 children at the local BRD Medical College last month, police said.

Police said the accused were given several notices, reminders and opportunities to turn up before them to present their side, but they failed to do so. After the NBWs were issued, police have started raiding their possible hideouts, said an official.

All the seven persons -- Kafeel Khan, Manish Bhandari, Uday Pratap Sharma, Sanjay Kumar Tripathi, Satish, Sudhir Kumar Pandey and Gajanand Jaiswal -- have been accused by the state government of many irregularities and lackadaisical attitude, which finally led to the death of children, allegedly due to paucity of oxygen, between August 7 and 11.

Investigating Officer of the case Abhishek Kumar Singh had requested District Prosecution Officer B.D. Mishra to issue the NBWs against the accused, after which the fast-track court was approached.

Suspended Principal of the BRD Medical College Rajeev Mishra and his wife Poornima have already been arrested and sent to 14-day judicial custody.

--IANS

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