Kafeel Khan

Dr. Kafeel Khan, born on September 22, 1981, in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, is an Indian pediatrician and activist known for his work in healthcare and advocacy for marginalized communities. He gained national attention during the 2017 oxygen shortage crisis at the Baba Raghav Das Medical College in Gorakhpur, where he reportedly arranged oxygen cylinders in an effort to save children’s lives during a critical supply shortage. While initially arrested by the Uttar Pradesh government on allegations of medical negligence, he was later acquitted of all charges in 2019, with the court finding no evidence of wrongdoing.

Since then, Khan has become a vocal advocate for healthcare reform, social justice, and human rights, focusing on improving public healthcare infrastructure and addressing communal issues. He has been detained multiple times, most notably under the National Security Act (NSA) in 2020 for a speech at Aligarh Muslim University. The Allahabad High Court later deemed the speech non-inflammatory, leading to his release.

In January 2021, BOOM fact-checked a viral image claiming that Dr. Kafeel Khan participated in a farmers' tractor rally.

BOOM found out that the image was actually a screenshot from a video Khan posted on social media from Jaipur village, clarifying that he was not physically present at the rally.