Odisha’s Health Minister Naba Kishore Das, a confidant of the chief minister, passed away on Sunday, 29 January from bullet injuries, reported Apollo Hospital Bhubaneswar. The state health minister was shot and grievously injured when he got out of his car on Sunday, allegedly by a police officer who was captured, officials said.
The Odisha Health and Family Welfare Minister Naba Kisore Das was shot dead by an assistant sub inspector of police in western Odisha town of Brajarajnagar on January 29.
The shooter was identified as Gopal Das, who was posted in the Gandhi Chowk police outpost of Brajarajnagar. He had earlier served the Minister in the capacity of his personal security officer.
On January 29 afternoon, Mr. Gopal Das reportedly fired from his service revolver at Gandhi Chowk where the Minister was stepping out of his vehicle to wave to his supporters. Mr. Naba Kisore Das had been scheduled to inaugurate an office in Brajarajanagar.
The incident occurred when the minister was on his way to attend a programme in the district. Around 12.10 p.m., when he came out of his vehicle, one person opened fire at him from a very close range, said local police.
The inspector in charge of Brajarajnagar police station and a constable immediately overpowered the assailant. After two rounds of fire, the two police personnel managed to change the direction of his revolver-holding hand towards the sky. In this process, the inspector in charge sustained injuries and another person was hit by a bullet, they added.
Condemning the incident, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said that the crime branch has been directed to take up the investigation of the case.
I am shocked at the unfortunate incident of attack on honourable minister Naba Das. I strongly condemn the attack on him.”
Initially, he was taken to the Jharsuguda district headquarters hospital, the SDPO said.
Das was airlifted to Bhubaneswar in an air ambulance and admitted to Apollo Hospital, Bhubaneswar.