Odisha health minister shot at by policeman, critical

Odisha health minister Naba Das was getting out of his car to attend a programme when an assistant sub inspector of police fired at him from point blank range fatally injuring him on the spot

Updated on: Jan 29, 2023, 13:56:11 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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Odisha health and family welfare minister and senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Naba Das on Sunday sustained critical injuries after an assistant sub inspector of police fired at him from point blank range near a busy square in western Odisha town of Brajarajnagar in Jharsuguda district.

The Odisha police said the bullets hit health minister Naba Das’chest on the left side. (File Photo)

Watch: On Cam: Cop fires twice at Odisha Minister; Naba Kisore critical, airlifted to Bhubaneswar

Das, 60, was getting out of his car at Gandhi chhak to attend a programme when assistant sub-inspector of police Gopal das fired at him from point blank range fatally injuring him on the spot. Sub-divisional police officer Gupteswar Bhoi said bullets hit his chest on the left side. Another policeman who was standing nearby was also injured as few bullets from ASI’s revolver hit him.

“We are interrogating the ASI to know why he fired at the minister,” the SDPO said.

Following the incident, Das was rushed to a local hospital. Officials said the minister is being airlifted to Bhubaneswar for further treatment.

The three-time MLA was recently in news over reports that he donated a pitcher made of 1.7 kg gold and 5 kg silver worth over ₹1 crore to Shani Singnapur temple in Maharashtra this month on the occasion of Triveni Amavasya. Das, however, said he had donated ₹10 lakh and offered a pitcher filled with mustard oil.

The influential leader is the second richest minister in Naveen Patnaik cabinet after the chief minister.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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