Bhubaneswar: The post-mortem report of slain Odisha Health Minister Naba Das was handed over to the Crime Branch on Wednesday and it suggests that the minister died due to cardiogenic shock because of firearm injuries.
Quoting the post-mortem report, a senior official of the Crime Branch said, “The death of Das is homicidal in nature.”
“We are inspecting Das’ vehicle and the crime spot with the help of a scientific team and ballistic experts using a FARO 3-D scanner. We are also interrogating the accused,” the official added.
Meanwhile, a Crime Branch team headed by a DSP is examining the witnesses, including the supporters of the Naba Das who were present at the crime spot on January 29.
Another team of the Crime Branch is verifying the medical record and financial dealings of the accused ASI Gopal Krushna Das.
The Crime Branch team led by ADG Arun Bothra conducted a search on the premises of the Jharsuguda airport police station on Wednesday. After interrogating the accused Gopal Das at OSAP II Battalion, the Crime Branch dug up a sewage tank on the premises of Jharsuguda Airport Police Station for clues.
“Steps are being taken to conduct Forensic Psychological Assessment and Layered Voice Analysis tests of the accused by experts of the CFSL, New Delhi. The Crime Branch ADG is personally monitoring and supervising the investigation of the case,” the official said.
Meanwhile, Justice (Rtd) JP Das was on Wednesday appointed to monitor the Crime Branch investigation into the case.
Accused Gopal Das, an ASI of Odisha Police, opened fire on Naba Das during an event at Brajarajnagar in Jharsuguda on January 29. Das was airlifted to a private hospital in Bhubaneswar in critical condition and succumbed to his injuries on the same day evening.
Crime Branch arrested ASI Gopal Das and took him on four-day remand on Wednesday.
