State Health Minister Naba Kisore Das, who was recently in news for donating a Suvarna Siddha Kalash or gold pitcher worth over Rs 1 crore to a Shani Shingnapur temple in Maharashtra, was on Sunday shot dead by an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of Police with service revolver at Gandhi Chhak in Brajarajnagar.
DIG of Police Deepak Kumar said the incident occurred at around 12.20 pm when Das was on his way to attend a programme. ASI Gopal Das opened fire at Das after he stepped out of his vehicle. The reason behind the firing was still unclear. ASI Gopal Das was posted at the Gandhi Chhak outpost.
Following the firing, Naba Das was rushed to Jharsuguda District Headquarters Hospital and later airlifted and admitted to the Apollo Hospital in Bhubaneswar.
A five-member team of doctors led by Dr Debashis Nayak immediately conducted a lifesaving surgery to extract the bullet stuck in Das’ left chest. However, the Minister succumbed to the injuries.
“A team of doctors operated on the Minister and found that a single bullet had entered and exited the body, injuring the heart and left lung, causing internal bleeding and injury. The injuries were repaired and steps were taken to improve the pumping of the heart. He was given urgent ICU care. But despite best efforts, he could not be revived,” a statement by Apollo Hospital said.
Earlier on Das’ arrival at the hospital, Governor Ganeshi Lal and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, many Ministers and MLAs had reached the hospital to enquire about his health conditions and console his family members.
CM Patnaik ordered a probe by the Crime Branch of Odisha Police. A CB team led by ADG Arun Bothra flew to Brajarajnagar and started an on-the-spot examination.
The ASI’s family members, including his wife and son, said the police officer was mentally sick for over eight years and undergoing treatment for bipolar disorder.
Dr Chandrasekhar Tripathy of Brahmapur, who was treating ASI Das, said, “As I recollect, Gopal came to me for the first time seven to eight years ago for treatment. He was detected having bipolar disorder. After taking regular medicines, he was fully cured. Again, he came to me around eight months ago and we found his bipolar disorder had reoccurred. I had given him medicines. I’m not sure if he was regularly taking the medicines or discontinued.”
The doctor informed that a person suffering from bipolar disorder often turns violent and commits a ghastly act.
Reports from Jharsuguda said tension prevailed at the spot with BJD activists staging a dharna following the firing incident.
“It is suspected that the firing was ‘pre-planned’ as the Minister was allegedly shot at from a close range. We want a fair probe,” a BJD activist said.
Four to five rounds of gunshots were heard on the spot. Another person, who was standing near the Minister, also sustained injury along with a police official.
Brajarajnagar SDPO Gupteswar Bhoi said ASI Das was taken into custody and interrogation was on to ascertain the motive behind the crime.
Opposition Congress leaders Narasingha Mishra and Santosh Singh Saluja dubbed the attack on the Minister as complete failure of law and order in the State and demanded resignation of CM Patnaik owning moral responsibility for the incident.