BHUBANESWAR, Jan 29: Odisha Minister Naba Das who was shot at by an assistant
sub-inspector of police at close range and critically injured when he was alighting
from his car to attend a BJD party event in Brajarajnagar in Jharsuguda district
on Sunday, died of the bullet injuries after being airlifted to Apollo Hospital
in Bhubaneswar.
“The injuries were repaired, and steps were taken to improve the pumping of
the heart. He was given urgent ICU care. But, despite best of efforts, he could
not be revived and succumbed to his injuries,” a statement issued by the hospital
said in the evening.
The Health Minister was first taken to Jharsuguda district headquarters hospitala
and later flown to Apollo in Bhubaneswar. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik visited
Naba Das in the Apollo hospital. He had suffered serious wounds in the chest
on the left, being shot several times.
ASI Gopal Das was arrested as he tried to flee after opening fire. The incident
took place at 1 pm. He is currently being interrogated. No details were available.
According to a late report, the policeman is a mental patient and had been
undergoing treatment. His wife Jayant told reporters that Gopal Das suffered
from mental disorder for the last seven-eight years. However, what triggered
the firing is not known.
A loud gunshot was heard amid sloganeering by his supporters. And he staggered
back into the car holding his chest. Naba Das was bleeding from his chest as
supporters tried to lift him to a car.
"Assistant Sub-inspector of Police (ASI) Gopal Das opened fire at the Minister.
The Minister is injured and rushed to hospital," the police told reporters.
The motive of the attack is not known yet.
A team of the Odisha crime branch will investigate the incident in Brajarajnagar.
A three-time MLA, Naba Kishor Das is said to be a very influential leader of
Jharsuguda who left the Congress to join the BJD a few years ago. He was among
the new Ministers who joined the Naveen Patnaik Cabinet in the reshuffle that
took place in June last year.
One of the richest Ministers Naba Das had declared movable and immovable property
worth Rs 34 cr. Das’ wife owned 65 vehicles, it is reported.
