Kashif Jameel, brother of Dr Kafeel Ahmad Khan, an accused in the BRD Medical College tragedy, was shot at by two unidentified motorcycle-borne men near Gorakhnath temple area around 10 pm on Sunday.

The shooting took place when Kashif Jameel was returning home. Two unidentified attackers, who were chasing him, sprayed him with bullets when he was near Gorakhnath temple. Three bullets hit him on the hand, shoulder and one pierced through the neck.

Ironically, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was also in Gorakhpur Sunday evening after concluding his two-day Varanasi visit. He stays in Gorakhnath temple which comes under high-security zone. At the time of the shooting, the Chief Minister was in the temple compound only.

Kashif was the one who fought Dr Khan’s case and got him bail from the High Court after Dr Khan languished in Gorakhpur district jail for nine months.

He was rushed to Star Hospital in critical condition. Talking to DNA, Dr Kafeel said that he had always feared that he and his family will be eliminated. "An attempt is being made to murder me and my family," he said. "My family was living under constant threat. We were not provided any security despite our requests,' he added.

The police have registered a case against unidentified miscreants.

Chequered Past

Earlier, Yogi Adityanth-led BJP government had denied permission to Dr Khan for going to Kerala and volunteer his services to the Nipah patients.

Dr Ganesh Kumar, the Acting Principal BRD Medical College, had told DNA that Dr Khan was not be allowed to volunteer his medical services in Kerala without prior permission.

The reaction came after Dr Khan offered his volunteer medical services to Nipah patients to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on the social media. The Kerala CM had responded to his Facebook post lauding his noble gesture and inviting him to the state to serve those suffering from Nipah virus.

Dr Khan had claimed that those who were raising questions on his decision to serve Nipah victims in Kerala hospitals were twisting facts and have no knowledge of rules. “My bail order only says that I can’t leave the country without permission. But there is no mention that I can’t offer my medical services to any other hospital or patient. I am a doctor. Isn’t my duty to save patient’s life if someone is dying before me?’ quipped Dr Khan.

The state government is at loggerheads with Dr Khan for sharing dais with Gujarat dalit leader Jignesh Mevani in Kerala and playing into the hands of opposition parties ever since he was suspended on August 22 last year and subsequently arrested and charge-sheeted in connection with deaths of 33 children at the BRD Medical College in Gorakpur on August 10 and 11.