Witnesses claim Naba Kisore Das was shot at by the sub-inspector just as he stepped out of his vehicle for an event at Brajarajnagar’s Gandhi Chowk. Naba Kisore Das, the health minister of Odisha, was critically injured after being shot at by an assistant sub-inspector in Jharsuguda district earlier today.
Witnesses claim the sub-inspector fired at Naba Kisore Das from a close range just as he stepped out of his vehicle to attend an event at Brajarajnagar’s Gandhi Chowk.
A video shows the minister bleeding from the chest as people carry him to a local hospital in a car. A witness told NDTV “As the minister arrived at the event, a huge crowd gathered to welcome him. Suddenly, gunshots were heard and a cop was seen running away after firing at Mr Das.”
Mr Das was later airlifted to a hospital in Bhubaneswar and his condition is said to be critical, officials said. Sub-Inspector Gopal Das who fired at the minister has been taken into custody and investigation is on, the police said. The motive behind the attack is still unclear.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik strongly condemned the attack and wished for the early recovery of Naba Kisore Das . “Crime Branch is directed to take up investigation,” news agency ANI quoted him as saying.
Das, 60, was getting out of his car at Gandhi chhak to attend a programme when assistant sub-inspector of police Gopal das fired at him from point blank range fatally injuring him on the spot. Sub-divisional police officer Gupteswar Bhoi said bullets hit his chest on the left side. Another policeman who was standing nearby was also injured as few bullets from ASI’s revolver hit him.
The three-time MLA was recently in news over reports that he donated a pitcher made of 1.7 kg gold and 5 kg silver worth over ₹1 crore to Shani Singnapur temple in Maharashtra this month on the occasion of Triveni Amavasya. Das, however, said he had donated ₹10 lakh and offered a pitcher filled with mustard oil.