Odisha’s Health and Family Welfare minister Naba Kishore Das was shot dead by a local assistant sub-Inspector named Gopal Das in Brajrajnagar in Jharsuguda district of western Odisha on 29th January 2023 . The victim was under treatment in a Bhubaneswar private hospital but unfortunately he succumbed to injuries.
Jharsuguda was the stronghold of Nabakishore Das. He has been quite controversial. It was alleged that he appointed his own daughter as an assistant to him. Naba Das was a three time MLA fromJharsuguda. A high profile affluent Minister who was highly influenced .
He was many times at issue for different allegations imposed on him .In 2022, Lalit Kumar Sahu, the 22-year-old cook, was found hanging with a towel in the staff quarters of the Minister’s residence in a mysterious manners.According to news sources the Odisha Police was under pressure to put the investigation in cold storage and later it was closed.
It was also alleged that he had visited the Shani Shingnapur temple in Maharashtra with his family members and donated the Kalash made of Rs 1.7 kg of gold and 5 kg of silver. He also performed the “Shani Abhishek’ at the famous Shani shrines in the country.
According to local sources Gopal Das on duty was once slapped by the MLA for some reasons.So it was assumed that he wanted to take revenge but there is no such clear evidence for the above motive . Gopal Das shooted Nabakishore Das from point-blank range leaving him no chance to survive.No sooner he was nabbed by policemen and was taken into custody safely as Biju Janata Dal (BJD) supporters tried to attack him.
So far different speculations have been made , many theories have been put forward but the exact motive behind the killing is not yet known. During interrogation Gopal Das made a shocking revelation and said he was aware of the fact that if once caught he would be killed either by the bouncers or party supporters so he tucked a note inside his pocket the real motive behind the killing but things didn’t work according to his plan instead he was caught . Meanwhile, Gopal Das’s wife Jayanati told reporters that he had some mental disorder for the last seven- eight years, and was taking medicines and appeared quite normal. She also said her husband made a video call to their daughter in the morning. Das had no personal enmity with the minister, said Jayanati, demanding a proper investigation into the matter to find out the truth.
Nabakishore Das switched over to the BJD from the Congress ahead of 2019 elections. He was known to have business interests in coal mining, transportation and hospitality sectors.
The Chief Minister of Odisha has strongly condemned the attack and killing of the Health Minister. Patnaik has directed the Crime Branch to take up investigation and insisted for a thorough probe