Jharsuguda: Over a month after reopening the high-profile Naba Das murder case, the Odisha Crime Branch is now likely to examine the phone call records of Gopal Das, who is the lone accused in the sensational daylight killing.
As per sources, the Crime Branch may go for a thorough scanning of the call records of Gopal Das, a dismissed policeman, during the period of around two months prior to the murder of Naba Das on January 29, 2023.
The objective is to identify all those whom Gopal had spoken to during the two-month period before the killing. Efforts would also be made to ascertain the nature of such conversation and whether the former assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of police had discussed the murder plan with anyone, sources said.
Based on the information obtained from the call records, more people may also be interrogated by the investigators. The whole exercise is aimed at ascertaining if the murder was pre-planned and if some other people were also behind the crime as part of any conspiracy, they said.
It may be noted that the Crime Branch last month stepped up investigation into the daylight killing of the senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader more than two years ago.
As part of the fresh probe, a Crime Branch team also visited the Jharsuguda District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) and Veer Surendra Sai Airport in Jharsuguda.
Sources said the probe team aimed to obtain information pertaining to the events that followed the attack on Naba Kishore Das at Brajarajnagar on January 29, 2023.
The team focused on the sequence of events, particularly how and when Naba Das was airlifted after he was shot at by a policeman.
As part of the investigation, the team also questioned two doctors who had provided medical treatment to Naba Das after the shooting.
It may be noted that a two-member Crime Branch team recorded the statements of the slain BJD leader’s daughter, Dipali Das and son Bishal Das, spending over 7 hours at his residence at Sarabahal in Jhaarsuguda. They also recorded the statement of Minati Das, wife of Naba Das.
The investigating officers first visited the hospital where they questioned the doctors who treated Naba Das after he was shot. Later, they proceeded to the Veer Surendra Sai Airport, where they investigated the circumstances surrounding Naba Das’s airlift to Bhubaneswar after the shooting and how the operation was carried out, and who accompanied Das during those critical moments.
Besides, the Crime Branch team reportedly inquired about the exact time the plane departed for Bhubaneswar, and other crucial details.
It may be recalled that the then Health Minister Naba Das was shot at allegedly by ASI Gopal Das at Brajarajnagar on January 29, 2023. He was later declared dead at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar.
