On Sunday, Odisha's Health and Family Welfare Minister Naba Kishore Das was shot and critically injured by Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police (ASI) Gopal Das while on his way to attend a meeting in Brajrajnagar town of Jharsuguda district.
On Sunday, the Health and Family Welfare Minister of Odisha, Naba Kishore Das, was shot and critically injured by an assistant sub-inspector of police (ASI) in the Jharsuguda district. The minister was on his way to attend a meeting in Brajrajnagar town when he was attacked. The cop responsible for the shooting, ASI Gopal Das, was in close proximity to the minister when he fired at least four to five bullets, hitting the minister in the chest.
Gopal Chandra Das, ASI (Photo: India Today)
The exact reason behind the shooting is yet to be determined, and the ASI is currently being interrogated. The incident raises serious questions about the security measures in place, as the minister had a police escort provided for him during the event. Tension prevailed at the scene of the shooting after BJD activists staged a protest in response to the attack.
The Odisha Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik, has strongly condemned the attack and directed the Odisha Crime Branch to carry out an investigation. The health minister is being airlifted to Bhubaneswar for further treatment and is being taken to Apollo Hospital.
The shooting of Naba Das has caused concern, as Odisha has a history of violence during elections. As a key BJD leader and influential figure from Jharsuguda, the timing of the attack ahead of the 2024 elections is certainly a matter of concern. Naba Das, who used to be with the Congress, switched to the BJP a few years ago.
In the video footage of the incident, Naba Das is seen bleeding from the chest as people try to lift him and place him in the front seat of a car. The shooting took place in Gandhi Square, and the ASI was quickly nabbed by local people and handed over to the police.
The SDPO of Brajrajnagar, Gupteswar Bhoi, informed PTI that the ASI fired at the minister from his revolver. He also stated that the exact reason behind the shooting was unclear and that the ASI was being interrogated for more details. When asked if the ASI fired on someone else's instructions, the SDPO said there was no such information available.
An eye witness told ANI that the minister was the chief guest at a public grievance office opening and was welcomed by the crowd when he arrived. Suddenly, a gunshot was heard, and police personnel were seen running away after shooting the minister from close range
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Odisha Health Minister Naba Das was shot at by an ASI today (Photo: Screengrab) |
Senior journalist Prasanna Mohanty commented on the shooting, saying that the attack on Naba Das was a matter of grave concern ahead of the 2024 elections. Naba Das is a very influential leader in Jharsuguda and is widely known for his political activism.
The shooting of Naba Kishore Das raises serious questions about the security measures in place for political leaders and raises concerns about the potential for violence during elections in Odisha. The Odisha Chief Minister has strongly condemned the attack and directed the Odisha Crime Branch to carry out a thorough investigation. The minister's condition is critical, and he is being airlifted to Bhubaneswar for further treatment.