Bhubaneswar: A new picture of Gopal Das, lone accused in Naba Das murder case, moving towards the Health Minister’s car and o taking out his service revolver with which he allegedly shot has surfaced.
One can see the dismissed assistant sub-inspector (ASI) wading through the crowd amid drum beats and noise and then taking his left hand towards the revolver.
Thereafter, Gopal moves closer to Naba Das’s car and positioned himself behind a man. Then he extends his right hand to pull the revolver out of its case.
Earlier, another picture of the accused aiming at the health minister from close range had surfaced. Though one could see his extending taut hands, the revolver with which he allegedly shot at Naba is not visible. Both the pictures have surfaced three weeks after the Minister was shot from close range on January 29.
Naba Das was shot in the chest near Gandhi Chowk at Brajrajnagar in Jharsuguda district on January 29 and died at a Bhubaneswar hospital hours later.
The accused had reportedly positioned himself in such a way as to let the minister see his face. After being shot at, Naba said, “kie gute maridela (someone has shot at me),” and faintly pointed his finger at the assailant. This then made the personal security officer (PSO), who was standing near the door realise that the minister has been hit. Since drums were being beaten to welcome the minister, the sound of the shot fired could not be heard clearly.
According to sources in Crime Branch, which is probing the case, Gopal allegedly killed the minister following his reported hatred for him as he blamed him for all illegal activities in Jharsuguda, and he had been living in fear and suspicion that Naba could get him killed.
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Jaydev Jena expressed surprise over the manner in which new videos and pictures before the murder are coming to fore three weeks after the crime.
