Second Missive From NHRC To Odisha DGP On Naba Das Murder

Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed DGP Odisha to submit a consolidated action taken report in connection with the murder of Health Minister Naba Das within four weeks.

The authorities concerned have also been asked to intimate the Commission on any notice or order received from the Odisha Human Rights Commission.

Chairperson of HRF India Manoj Jena had sought NHRC’s intervention for an independent and impartial inquiry into the alleged murder to ascertain the mystery behind it. The Odisha Crime Branch is currently probing the firing incident, which is being monitored by former Orissa HC judge Justice JP Das.

On February 7, the Commission had asked the DGP to initiate proper action within eight weeks while hearing a petition filed by rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy, who contended that the health minister was killed due to the failure of the government as it failed to take into account mental health and the physical parameters while assessing efficiency and performance of staff, especially police personnel posted with dignitaries and for maintaining of law and order in the state.

Besides independent investigation, he had sought compensation for the bereaved family and the injured cop.

Naba was shot at by an assistant sub-inspector of police, Gopal Das, at Brajrajnagar in Odisha’s Jharsuguda district on January 29 and he succumbed to the bullet injury while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar later that evening.