UP infant deaths a "man-made massacre" for commission: Doctor

Dr Kafeel Khan, who was arrested after the death of more than 60 children in a hospital in Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur in 2017, on Tuesday called the tragedy a "massacre" that took place for "10 per cent commission", and hit out at Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The tragedy at Baba Raghav Das Medical College, which shook the nation and made headlines worldwide, began with the death of 30 children on the night of August 10 that year, followed by 34 more deaths in the days to follow.

While many of the infants died allegedly due to disruption in oxygen supply because of pending payments to the supplier, the UP government had maintained that the deaths were caused by Japanese encephalitis.

Khan, then a paediatrician at the state-run hospital, was accused of negligence. He was suspended and later arrested following an outrage over the infant deaths.

Speaking to reporters here, Khan said, "The massacre happened for just 10 per cent commission. It is not a tragedy, it is a man-made massacre.

"I am moving the Allahabad High Court shortly to get justice for the deceased and seek punishment for the culprits. I have immense respect for judiciary and the Constitution."
Khan, who was in jail for eight months following his arrest, further claimed, "I have come out without a blemish in the principal secretary's report."