Naba Das Murder: Odisha CB Retrieves 12 Notes Written By Accused From Septic Tank

Jharsuguda: After a night-long operation to trace evidence in Odisha Minister Naba Das murder case, the Crime Branch sleuths retrieved 12 handwritten notes, reportedly dumped by accused Gopal Das, from a septic tank at Jharsuguda Airport Police Station.

Twelve pieces of paper with notes written in red colour in both English and Odia were retrieved after a team of Crime Branch sleuths searched the septic tank since Wednesday night at the airport police station, sources said.

The search operation was conducted after the dismissed police official reportedly revealed that he had thrown some notes in the wash room there and flushed it. The notes recovered from the septic tank were reported to have been written by Gopal. He was reported to have mentioned about the motive behind killing the Minister in these notes, sources said.

During interrogation, the ex-ASI reportedly told the Crime Branch sleuths that he had disposed of his handwritten letters and notes inside the airport police station wash room and flushed it.

After the revelation, Crime Branch sleuths also took the former ASI to the Airport Police Station amid tight security.

The team engaged sewage workers who dug out the sewage tank at the police station in an effort to retrieve the letters.

Though the team was reported to have found the notes, text was stated to have been blurred or erased. These are being sent to the State Forensic Science Laboratory (SFSL) in Bhubaneswar for examination, sources said. However, the Crime Branch is yet to disclose details.

After being held by police on the day of the murder on January 29, Gopal was initially taken to the Jharsuguda Airport police station, where he had allegedly tried to destroy the letter.

The Crime Branch has taken the accused on a 4-day remand foro sustained interrogation after getting permission from the Court of JMFC, Brajarajnagar on Wednesday.

Crime Branch ADG Arun Bothra had earlier said that accused Gopal Das has confessed to the crime during questioning.

According to the FIR filed at Brajarajnagar police station, Gopal Das had fired at the minister near Gandhi Chowk at Brajarajnagar in Jharsuguda district with a clear intention to kill.