A day after killing Odisha health minister Naba Das by firing at him from a close range, the accused Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Gopal Krushna Das has been arrested by the Crime Branch on Monday.
Informing about the development, Crime Branch ADG Arun Bothra said that the accused ASI was apprehended from the spot yesterday and he has already been arrested.
A team of Crime Branch has started investigation by visiting the crime spot where health minister Naba Das was shot allegedly by the accused ASI Gopal Krushna Das.
According to Bothra, a detailed investigation is currently underway to ascertain why the accused ASI fired at Naba Das and whether there was any past enmity or not.
“We will seek seven-day remand of the accused ASI for interrogating him on various aspects,” said Bothra.
The Crime Branch ADG refuted the reports that the accused ASI was earlier posted as the personal security officer (PSO) of health Minister Naba Das.
Meanwhile, the Crime Branch ADG and other senior officials quizzed the ASI for several hours today. It is pertinent to mention here that Naba Das sustained bullet injury after the accused ASI allegedly fired at him from a close range near Gandhi chowk in Brajarajnagar on Sunday.
The minister had reportedly come to the spot to attend a programme. As per the FIR lodged by the Inspector-in-charge of Brajarajnagar police station, the accused Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Gopal Krushna Das had fired at the minister ‘with a clear intention to kill.’
Following the incident, Naba Das was airlifted to Bhubaneswar from Jharsuguda where he succumbed to the bullet injuries yesterday. The last rites of health minister were conducted today.
Meanwhile, Jharsuguda SP today dismissed ASI Gopal Krushna Das of Gandhi Chowk Outpost under Brajarajnagar Police Station from service.
(Reported by Alok Mohanty)