Odisha health minister Naba Das shot dead by police ASI with service revolver

BY Swagatika Bhutia

BHUBANESWAR, JAN. 9: Odisha health minister and senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Naba Kishore Das who was recently in news for donating a Suvarna Siddha Kalash or gold pitcher worth over Rs 1 crore to Shani Shingnapur temple in Maharashtra was on Sunday shot dead by an Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police (ASI) at Gandhi Chhak in Odisha’s Brajarajnagar, nearly 400 km from here.

According to Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Deepak Kumar, the incident occurred at around 12.20 pm when Das was on his way to attend a programme.

Sources said that ASI Gopal Das opened fire at Naba Das after he stepped out of his vehicle. The exact reason behind the firing was still unclear.

ASI Gopal Das was posted at Gandhi Chhak at Brajarajnagar.

Following the incident, Naba Das was rushed to local Jharsuguda District Headquarters Hospital.  He was later airlifted to Bhubaneswar and admitted to Apollo Hospital in Bhubaneswar.

A five-member team of doctors led by Dr Debashis Nayak immediately conducted a life-saving surgery to extract the bullet stuck in the left chest of the minister. However, the minister succumbed to the injuries.

“The minister was admitted to Apollo with gunshot wound to left the chest. A team of doctors immediately attended and operated on the health minister and found that 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 of efforts, he could not be revived and succumbed to his injuries,” a statement by Apollo Hospital said.