Odisha Cop Shot at Minister Naba Das with “Clear Intention” to Kill Him: Police

GG News Bureau

Bhubaneswar, 31st Jan. In its FIR in the murder of Health Minister Naba Kishore Das, the Odisha Police stated that the accused assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Gopal Das had a “clear intention” to kill the minister.

This was stated by Brajrajnagar Police Station inspector-in-charge (IIC) Pradumnya Kumar Swain, who was present at the scene when the ASI allegedly opened fire on the 60-year-old minister, leading to his death on Sunday after several hours of treatment.

“All of a sudden, ASI Gopal Das of Gandhi Chowk Police Outpost, who was deployed for traffic clearance duty for the programme, came close to the minister and opened fire from his service pistol from a very close range aiming at the minister with a clear intention to kill him,” the IIC said his complaint at Brajrajnagar Police station.

Swain, who was shot in the ring finger by the second round allegedly fired by the ASI, stated that police officers/men from various units were mobilized and deployed on January 29, 2023 from 10.30 a.m. to discharge their duties in traffic arrangement, law and order, escort and pilot duty, and others for the minister’s program.

“At about 12.15 pm the car of minister Naba Kishore Das stopped near the building and he got down from the vehicle after opening the front side passenger door of the vehicle. All of a sudden, ASI Das who was deployed for traffic clearance duty for the programme, came close to the minister and opened fire from his service pistol from a very close range aiming at the minister.” Swain said that the bullet hit the chest of the minister and he fell down. There was profuse bleeding from the bullet wound on the body of the minister, the IIC said, adding that he along with constable KC Pradhan caught hold of the accused ASI.

“During push and pull the ASI fired two more rounds of bullets from his 9 mm pistol. From his second fire, I received an injury on my ring finger,” IIC Swain said.

Apart from the minister, the IIC stated in the FIR that another man, Jibanlal Nayak@Rintu of Kalinagar, was injured. Swain and constable Pradhan eventually overpowered accused Das and disarmed him.

Meanwhile, Arun Bothra, ADG Crime Branch, who interrogated the accused ASI, stated that Das “confessed” to the crime of opening fire on the minister.

The opposition BJP and Congress raised several concerns and suspected a “conspiracy” in the minister’s death.

Former Odisha Law Minister and Congress Legislature Party leader Narasingha, a lawyer, stated: “As per my reading, it is a part of the deep rooted conspiracy and needs impartial probe. It is surprising as to why sufficient police personnel were not deployed and ASI Das, engaged in traffic clearance, came dangerously close to the minister.”

The accused ASI was issued the pistol a day before the minister’s visit to his area, said BJP Leader of Opposition Jaynarayan Mishra.

“There should be a CBI probe to ascertain the truth behind the cabinet minister’s murder,” Mishra said.

Meanwhile, BJP MP Basant Panda from Kalahandi said he would raise the Odisha minister murder issue in Parliament.