Berhampur: While several questions pertaining to the firing incident on Odisha Health Minister Naba Kishore Das remain unanswered, the psychiatrist, who treated the accused assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of police, Gopal Das, on Sunday confirmed that he was suffering from bipolar disorder.
“Gopal Das is a psychiatric patient and was suffering from bipolar disorder. It needs continuous treatment and medication. I am not sure if he was taking medicines regularly,” Dr Chandrasekhar Tripathy, who runs The Mind clinic in the city, told a local news channel.
The doctor further said that he visited his clinic about eight years back in a manic state and exhibited aggressive behaviour. “The symptoms had reduced after a yearlong treatment. He visited the clinic within the last one year for his medicines. There is a chance of relapse and I am not aware if he was continuing with the medication or had consulted any psychiatrist in Jharsuguda,” he added.
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Gopal’s wife had earlier told the media that her husband was being treated for ‘psychological issues’ and was under medication. She, however, said that he had been doing fine and attending duty.
Notably, he had made a video call to his daughter between 11 am to 12 noon and cut the call halfway through, saying that he had to attend to another call. The firing incident took place around 12.30 pm.
While Gopal was the in-charge of Gandhi Chhak outpost at Brajarajnagar and stayed there, his family resided in Ankuli industrial estate of Berhampur and under Baidyanathpur police limits of Ganjam.
Recruited as a constable in 1990-1992, he served at the reserve police till being promoted as an ASI on September 9, 2009. A good footballer, Gopal was posted in Jharasuguda district in 2013. He also won 18 medals for investigations and was given cash awards eight times in his career.
The policeman was part of the security arrangement made for Naba Das. He had parked his motorcycle nearly 50 metres away from the spot where the health minister was shot at.
