New Delhi: Senior Biju Janata Dal leader and health minister in the Odisha cabinet under Naveen Patnaik, Naba Kisore Das, died after having been shot by a police officer on Sunday, January 29.
Assistant sub-inspector Gopal Das opened fire at Das while he was at Brajrajnagar in Jharsuguda district, according to reports. ASI Das was posted at the Gandhi Chowk police outpost in the town.
Videos have been circulated showing aides rushing a severely injured Das into a vehicle. He succumbed to his injuries in a hospital.
Top cops at Bhubaneswar said the motive behind the murder was unclear and is still being investigated. The Hindu has reported that ASI Das had earlier served the minister as his personal security officer.
The President, Draupadi Murmu, called it “a dastardly act of violence.”
Shocked and disturbed by the death of Shri Naba Kishore Das ji, Odisha Health minister, in a dastardly act of violence. My deepest condolences to his family and well wishers.
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) January 29, 2023