More Heads Roll In Police Dept Over Gruesome Murder Of Odisha Minister Naba Das

Bhubaneswar: Amid abounding conspiracy theories and scathing attack from the opposition over Naba Das’ gruesome murder, the Odisha government on Wednesday suspended the minister’s PSO Mitrabhanu Deo from service for alleged dereliction of duty.

On Tuesday, two officers, including Jharsuguda SP Rahul Jain, were transferred. Jain as well as sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Gupteswar Bhoi have been shifted to state police headquarters and Bargarh SP Parmar Smit Parshottamdas asked to take charge of Jharsuguda. Brajarajnagar IIC Pradyumna Kumar Swain and Gandhi Chhak outpost in-charge SI Sashibhusan Podha have also been transferred to Sambalpur and Sonepur police headquarters respectively.

Interestingly, Swain sustained bullet injury while trying to overpower and disarm ASI Gopal Das after he opened fire on Naba Das, leading to his death on January 29.

The accused cop, who was posted at Gandhi Chhak outpost, has already been dismissed from service.

Meanwhile, the Crime Branch, which is probing the incident, has taken Gopal on a 4-day remand for further questioning.