Odisha minister dies hours after he was shot at by cop

Health Minister Naba Das of Odisha, who was shot at in Brajarajnagar in the Jharsuguda district, succumbed to bullet injuries in Bhubaneswar hospital on Sunday, officials said. The Minister, who was said to be in a critical condition, was airlifted to the Apollo Hospital in
Bhubaneswar where he breathed his last. Das, 60, was shot at by an assistant sub-inspector of police near Brajarajnagar in Jharsuguda district earlier, following which he was criti-
cally injured. The killer cop Gopal Das fired at the minister from point blank range. Sub-divisional police officer Gupteswar Bhoi said bullets hit his chest on the left side. One more cop was injured in the attack. Das was airlifted to Bhubaneshwar for treatment. A team of doctors led by Dr Debashish Nayak immediately attended to and operated on him. “On operating, it was found that a single bullet had entered and exited the body, injuring the heart and left lung and causing massive internal bleeding and injury. The injuries were repaired, and steps were taken to improve the pumping of the heart. He was given urgent ICU care. But despite best of efforts, he could not be revived and succumbed to his injuries,” a statement from Apollo Hos-
pital read. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed deep shock and distress over the un-
fortunate death of Minister Naba Das. “He was an asset for both the Govt and the party. His death is a great loss to the State of Odisha,” Odisha CMO said. Earlier, an eyewitness, ad-
vocate Ram Mohan Rao said that the policeman fired at the Odisha minister from point-blank range. “This incident occurred at about 12.30 afternoon at Gandhi chowk when Das was on his way to attend a programme. He sustained bullet injuries to his left chest, leaving him seriously injured,” Rao said. The exact reason behind the firing is still unclear.