Odisha Health Minister Injured After Being Shot At In Jharsuguda, Accused ASI Nabbed

Odisha Health Minister Naba Das was on his way to attend a programme at Gandhi Chowk in Brajarajnagar when he was shot at alleged by an Assistant Sub-inspector of Police.

File Photo of Naba Kishore Das who sustained bullet injury after being shot at by some unidentified miscreant near Brajarajnagar in Jharsuguda district

New Delhi: Odisha Health Minister Naba Das on Sunday sustained injuries after being shot at near Brajarajnagar in Jharsuguda district. An Assistant Sub-inspector of Police who fired at the minister was nabbed by local people and handed over to the police.

"Assistant Sub-inspector of Police (ASI) Gopal Das opened fire at the minister, who sustained bullet injuries. The minister was then rushed to a hospital," Brajrajnagar SDPO Gupteswar Bhoi told reporters, as quoted by news agency PTI.

It was further informed that a probe has been launched to find out what prompted the ASI to open fire.

Visuals on social media showed the minister with a bullet injury being taken inside a car as he was being rushed to a local hospital. In the video footage, Das is seen bleeding from the chest as people try to lift him and place him on the front seat of a car.

The SDPO informed that the injured minister was taken to the Jharsuguda district headquarters hospital. Arrangements were then made to airlift him to a Bhubaneswar hospital for "better treatment", he stated, as per PTI.

Tension prevailed in the town in the wake of the incident, with supporters of Das questioning "security lapses". Some of them claimed that a conspiracy was hatched to target him.

Bhoi said that the ASI was currently being interrogated, and more details will be available after a thorough investigation.

"At a public grievance office opening, Naba Das was the chief guest. When he arrived, a crowd gathered to welcome him. Suddenly, a gunshot was heard. We saw police personnel running away after shooting from close range, Minister to be airlifted to Bhubaneswar," news agency ANI quoted an eyewitness as saying.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik condemned the attack and said, "I am shocked at the unfortunate incident of attack on honourable minister Shri Naba Das. I strongly condemn the attack on him. I pray for his early recovery."

"Crime branch has been directed to take up the investigation of the case. Senior officers of the crime branch have been asked to go to the spot," his office informed.