‘It’s Your Turn Now’: Death Threat for Dr Kafeel Khan After Attempt to Shoot Umar

After Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student activist Umar Khalid was shot at outside the Constitution Club, near Parliament on Monday, Dr Kafeel Khan, the suspended paediatrician from Baba Raghav Das (BRD) Medical College too has received death threats. Khalid had earlier reported having received death threats and had sought protection.  

Khan, whose younger brother Kashif Jameel was also shot at in Gorakhpur on June 10, was present at the Constitution Club with Khalid, to attend an event that was organised to talk about hate crimes. 

Khan received a text message on his mobile on Monday night. The message reads: “Ab teri baari hai, bachega nahi ab tu.(Now, it is your turn, you will not escape now).”

Speaking to Newsclick, Khan said, "I have given a written complaint to the SSP Gorakhpur about the death threats. Two months ago, my younger brother was attacked with multiple rounds of firing near Gorakhnath Temple, where Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was resting. More than two months have passed, and they have not been able to make a headway in the case."

Khan’s younger brother Kashif Jameel had received three bullet injuries.

"I think, I am sharing my views over BRD Medical College tragedy across India, and am speaking about how children had died, demanding justice to the family and compensation by the government. This could be the reason behind the threats, but I will not stop. This fascist government want to mute my voice. Probably, these are the same shooters who shot at my younger brother Kashif," he said. 

A twitter handle with username Zaidu Sabbag wrote on the microblogging site: “Younger brother [of Kafeel Khan] was attacked earlier, and today Umar Khalid was shot at, and now this message. What does this mean?” UP Police quickly responded to Zaidu, and asked Gorakhpur Police to look into the matter.

पहले छोटे भाई पर हमला हुआ और आज @UmarKhalidJNU पर हमला हुआ
और आज ये मैसेज @drkafeelkhan को आया इसका क्या मतलब है ?

अगर गलत के खिलाफ आवाज़ उठाई या तो पैसों से मुँह बन्द कर दो या धमका दो फिर भी ना माने तो मार दो ?
अल्लाह बेहतर करने वाला है बुराई का अंत निश्चित है ? @Uppolice pic.twitter.com/CisyXjPxH1

— Zaidu Sabbag (زيشان رنغريض) (@Zaidu0003) August 13, 2018