Odisha health minister Naba Kishore Das, who was shot at from a close range by a police officer in Jharsuguda district, succumbed to his injuries at a hospital in Bhubaneswar on Sunday evening. Das, 61, was shot at in the morning as he was getting out of his car to attend an event at Gandhi Chowk in Brajarajnagar.
“On operating, it was found that a single bullet had entered and exited the body, injuring the heart and left lung, causing massive internal bleeding and injury,” said a release issued by the Apollo hospital.
“The injuries were repaired, and steps were taken to improve the pumping of the heart. He was given urgent ICU care. But despite the best of efforts, he could not be revived and he succumbed to his injuries,” the hospital further said.
The accused cop, identified as assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Gopal Das, has been arrested and is being interrogated. According to police, Das was in-charge of Gandhi Chowk police outpost.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed deep shock and distress over the unfortunate death of Das. "He was an asset for both the government and the party. His death is a great loss to the State of Odisha," the CM said.
The chief minister, who had earlier visited the hospital, has ordered a crime branch enquiry into the incident.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his grief at the death of Das. "Saddened by the unfortunate demise of Minister in Odisha Government, Shri Naba Kishore Das Ji. Condolences to his family in this tragic hour. Om Shanti," Modi said.
While the reason for the firing is not immediately known, it is being said that the ASI was under depression for quite some time. His wife Jayanti, who lives in Berhampur in south Odisha, told media that her husband has been taking medicine for mental health issues for the last seven years. She also claimed that he misses his regular medicines at times.
“I don't not know whether minister Naba Das had any enmity with him. I have never heard anything about the minister from my husband. After hearing the incident, I was shocked and numbed,” she said.
Jayanti claimed that she had talked to her husband over phone yesterday and he had made a video call to their daughter earlier today. She said she didn't feel anything unusual in his conversations.
Gopal's son also claimed that his father's health condition was not good and he was not granted leave by authorities for medical consultation.
SDPO Bhoi said the bullets hit at the left side of the minister's chest. Das was rushed to the district hospital from where he was taken to Jharsuguda airport to be airlifted to Bhubaneswar, along with a medical team and life support system. In Bhubaneswar, the police had set up a green corridor from airport to the hospital for a hassle-free movement of the ambulance.
Brajarajnagar is the headquarters of Ib Valley collieries and the place is also known for crimes related to coal business. Initially, suspicion arose that the attack on minister might be related to that.
Das, who represents Jharsuguda assembly constituency, was in the Congress for a long time before joining the BJD. In 2019, he became a cabinet minister in charge of health and family welfare. Recently, he was in the news for offering a gold pot worth Rs 1 crore at famous Shani Signapur temple in Nasik district of Maharashtra.
With inputs from Lalit Pattajoshi
