Odisha health minister, shot at by policeman, dies

Odisha Health Minister Naba Das, who was shot at by a policeman during an event in Jharsuguda district on Sunday, succumbed to his injuries, reported India Today.

Naba Kishore Das was shot at by an assistant sub-inspector of police in Jharsuguda district. Das received bullet injuries to his chest and was rushed to hospital for treatment. He breathed his last at Apollo Hospital in Bhubaneswar on Sunday.

A cop fired at least four to five bullets when Naba Das stepped out of his car at Gandhi square. The incident took place in Brajrajnagar town of the district when the minister was on his way to attend a meeting. The accused, identified as ASI Gopal Das, was nabbed by local people, who then handed him over to the police.

In a video footage, Das was seen bleeding from the bullet injury as people tried to lift and place him on the front seat of a car.

In a statement, the Apollo hospital said that the Odisha health minister, who was admitted with gunshot sounds to left chest, succumbed to his injuries on Sunday.

“Health Minister Naba Das was admitted to Apollo with gunshot wounds to the left chest. A team of doctors led by Dr Debashish Nayak immediately attended to and operated on him. On operation, 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 efforts, he could not be revived and succumbed to his injuries,” the statement read, as per the report.

Agencies