Bhubaneswar: Even as a team of the Odisha Crime Branch is investigating the motive behind the killing of state Health Minister Naba Kishore Das, an FIR lodged by Pradyumna Swain, Inspector-In-Charge (IIC) of Brajarajnagar police station, states that the accused Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Gopal Krushna Das had fired at the minister ‘with a clear intention to kill.’
The FIR states, “Health and Family Welfare Minister Naba Kishore Das was scheduled to inaugurate the Office of Chairperson/Vice Chairperson of Brajrajnagar in the Lift and Shift Building at Gandhi Chowk on Sunday (January 29, 2023).
The minister’s car stopped near the venue at around 12:15 pm and he alighted from the vehicle after opening the front side passenger door. Immediately, ASI Gopal Krushna Das, who was deployed for traffic clearance, near the door and opened fire from his service pistol from a very close range aiming at the minister with a ‘clear intention to kill him’.
The bullets hit the minister on the chest and he fell down, reads the FIR.
The Brajarajnagar IIC, who is the complainant in the case, along with Constable KC Pradhan of Rampur Police Outpost caught hold of the assailant ASI Gopal Krushna Das. However, the accused fired two more rounds of bullets from his 9 mm pistol during the tussle.
In due course, the IIC also sustained injuries on his finger. Another man, identified as Jibanlal Nayak of Kalinagar, was also injured. After some struggle, the IIC along with Constable Pradhan overpowered the assailant and disarmed him.
