Kolkata: Days after Odisha’s health minister, Naba Kisore Das, was fatally shot — allegedly by a policeman — a senior Crime Branch officer told ThePrint that the killing was a “planned” one. However, the motive behind the act is still unclear, the officer added.
“The attack was planned for quite some time… We are still to find out the reason behind this incident. Investigation is underway, the case is open”, said the officer, who is part of the Crime Branch team investigating the case.
On Sunday, Das was shot allegedly by Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Gopal Das, who was on duty during the minister’s official visit to Brajrajnagar in Jharsuguda, his own constituency. He succumbed to his injuries Sunday evening.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik immediately ordered a Crime Branch probe. Officers interrogated the late minister’s driver and personal security officer (PSO), as well as Gopal Das’s family members in Berhampur district Tuesday morning.
“ASI Gopal Das of Gandhi Chowk Police outpost, who was deployed for traffic clearance duty for the programme came close to Naba Kisore Das and opened fire from his service pistol from a very close range aiming at the minister with a clear intention to kill him”, reads the FIR copy accessed by ThePrint.
“We have arrested the accused and it is a clear-cut case. He (Gopal Das) has confessed to the crime. We are trying our best to conduct the probe scientifically, by collecting maximum evidence; we are questioning eyewitnesses as well”, said Additional Director General of Police, Crime Branch, Arun Bothra while addressing the media in Jharsuguda Monday. Bothra is overseeing the Crime Branch probe.
Das has been booked under section 307 of Indian Penal Code for attempt to murder and section 27(1) of the Arms Act, 1959, according to the FIR. The police added section 302 (murder) of the IPC after the minister succumbed to injuries.
The Crime Branch has formed two teams, one headed by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ramesh C. Dora in Jharsuguda, and another headed by DSP Shishir Mishra in Bhubaneswar, according to the press statement issued by the Crime Branch Monday evening.
The first team, accompanied by scientific ballistic experts of the State Forensic Science Laboratory, Bhubaneswar, are camping in Brajrajnagar. They visited the incident spot and seized one empty case, one 9mm pistol and three rounds of live ammunition, as well as Gopal Das’s mobile handset; these have now been sent for forensic examination, the statement added.
The Bhubaneswar team conducted an inquest, followed by an autopsy at Capital Hospital, where the entire process was recorded on camera, added the statement. The Crime Branch has seized medical reports, bloodstained clothes, and viscera of the late minister, which have been sent for chemical examination.
The Crime Branch has sought seven-day police remand to further question Gopal Das, who is currently in Jharsuguda sub-jail. The lower court has reserved its judgment, which is expected later Tuesday evening.
Meanwhile, the state government has written to the Orissa High Court, urging it to appoint a sitting or retired high court judge or district judge to monitor the Crime Branch probe, sources in the Chief Minister’s Office told ThePrint Monday.
‘Psychological issues’
Gopal Das, a resident of Berhampur district, was recruited as a constable in 1990-1992 and had been serving in Jharsuguda district since 2013, according to a report. Das’s wife Jayanti told the media Sunday that he had been undergoing treatment for “psychological issues” for over seven years now.
“He called our daughter Sunday morning. I couldn’t speak to him as the line was disconnected. Then I came to know about the incident from the media”, Jayanti said, adding that he had visited home five months ago.
Das’s son, Manoj, a higher secondary student, said: “My father had applied for leave for the last four months, but the request has not been accepted.”
(Edited by Anumeha Saxena)
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