Bhubaneswar: In a fresh twist to former Health Minister Naba Das death case, the report of State Forensic Science Laboratory (SLSF) has revealed use of multiple firearms in the crime.
This has raised suspicion about involvement of more shooters apart from the prime accused, Gopal Das, sacked police ASI, who was accused of having fired on Naba at a public gathering in Jharsuguda on January 29, 2023, leading to his death.
According to the report, one bullet struck the minister while five others hit an accompanying government vehicle, though Gopal Das had fired three rounds with his 9mm pistol. It mentioned about 5 “gunshot holes” on the left side of the rear vehicle.
The SFSL, however, didn’t find any “gunshot hole” in the vehicle in which Naba Das was traveling.
The chargesheet filed by the Crime Branch had stated that Naba Das and aides travelled to Brajarajnagar Gandhi Chowk on the fateful day in two separate vehicles. Das was in the leading car, with his aides following in another. A magazine with 18 bullets and three unfired rounds was recovered from Gopal Das.
Of the six bullets, three bullets were unused, one hit Naba Das in the chest, one was not discharged and another was fired into the air. one bullet shell and an unused bullet were recovered from the spot.
The absence of shell casings for the bullets that struck the vehicle has raised questions regarding the trajectory and origin of the gunfire.
Defence lawyer Naresh Nayak hinted at possible involvement of a sniper, considering the precise nature of the attack. Interestingly, the Crime Branch had failed to trace the bullet that hit the slain politician and exited his body, injuring the heart and left lung and causing massive internal bleeding.
Nayak further claimed that Gopal Das, who was in charge of the former Minister’s security, had fired three blank shots after hearing a loud sound resembling a cracker blast. He added that Naba Das might have been shot by some other pistol. He also questioned as to why the shirt which the Minister wore on the fateful day and the blood soaked towel on the car seat were missing from the seizure list submitted with SFL.
This has come amid exchange of words between the Odisha government and Naba Das’ family over a CBI probe into the case.
A day after she made the demand before the media, Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan on January 16 advised her to submit a formal written petition to the state government, requesting for a CBI investigation into her father’s murder.
Reacting to the forensic report, senior Congress leader Narasingha Mishra said that he was keen for a high court-monitored SIT probe into the incident but under the present circumstances, would not mind a CBI investigation.
The Charge-Sheet
The 543-page preliminary charge-sheet stated that dismissed policeman acted alone in planning and executing the murder of the 61-year-old Minister. His personal grudge and anguish against the influential politician were motives behind the crime, ruling out any conspiracy and involvement or support of any other person.
