Kolkata: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has broken his silence on the killing of his party colleague and state health minister Naba Kishore Das.
The CM informed the legislative assembly Wednesday that the Odisha government has written to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) seeking help from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to crack the case.
“State crime branch is seeking help from the FBI as they have the best expertise in behavioural analysis in such cases. We have requested the Ministry of Home Affairs to facilitate evaluation of behaviour of the accused by the FBI’s behavioural support unit,” the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief said.
The accused, Odisha Police Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Gopal Das said, had opened fire at the minister in the latter’s assembly constituency — Jharsuguda — using his service weapon on 29 January. The probe into the killing was later transferred to the state crime branch by the chief minister. Nabbed from the scene of the crime, the ASI remains in judicial custody.
A top official of the crime branch told ThePrint on condition of anonymity Thursday that the request to the MHA was sent two days ago.
Earlier this month, the Odisha High Court appointed Justice J.P. Das (retd) to monitor the probe into Naba Kishore Das’s killing after the state government requested that the probe be conducted under the supervision of a sitting or retired judge to ensure transparency.
Patnaik said that the crime branch has been asked to conduct a “thorough and scientific investigation to establish the truth” with help from the country’s best forensic experts.
“Besides, the accused has been subjected to forensic psychological assessment and layered voice analysis test,” he said. Gopal Das was taken to the Directorate of Forensic Science in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar last week for narco analysis and a polygraph test.
Earlier this week, the crime branch approached the Jharsuguda district court seeking permission to conduct an examination of his mental health.
Crime branch sources said several witnesses have been quizzed in connection with the case and the probe is being conducted in a very scientific manner to build a watertight case, though the motive behind the crime is yet to be ascertained.
The opposition BJP meanwhile slammed the BJD government over the probe. Speaking to the media in Bhubaneswar Wednesday, BJP MP Suresh Pujari said, “The BJP wants the actual killer to be traced. It is evident that the crime branch probe is completely off track.”
Reacting to the charge, Patnaik tore into the BJP for “politicising the case” in his address to the legislative assembly Wednesday. “I am disturbed at the statements made by some opposition party leaders, especially state BJP on the entire police force. I pity the opposition, especially state BJP that has no other agenda except politicising heinous crimes, demoralising our police force which is the pride of Odisha.”
Leader of the opposition in the Odisha Assembly, BJP’s Jayanarayan Mishra retorted, “CM Patnaik has woken up from sleep after 24 days. He is lying and hoodwinking the people with his statement.”
Meanwhile, Naba Kishore Das’s daughter Dipali told the media in Bhubaneswar Tuesday that the family is satisfied with the progress in the probe. “The crime branch is probing the case and after its final report is submitted, we will be able to say something. Everyone has their opinion but after my father’s death, we are completely broken,” she said.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
Also Read: 25 years of BJD – what makes the party & its president, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, click