The bid on the life of Health Minister Naba Das on Sunday shocked the State to its core. The fact that a police officer made this attempt on the Minister’s life has left several questions to be answered.
The accused police officer has been identified as Gopalkrushna Das. Das started his career as a constable in Berhampur.
He was promoted to the ranks of ASI and transferred to Jharsuguda where he served for more than 12 years. He is currently posted as the in-charge of Gandhi Square outpost in Brajarajnagar.
However, as per reports, Das was suffering from mental illness and had high blood pressure as well.
According to the head of the department (HOD) of Psychiatry, MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur, Dr Chandra Sekhar Tripathy, Das is suffering from bipolar disorder. “Das first visited my clinic some eight to ten years ago. He used to get angry very easily and was undergoing treatment for this,” said Tripathy.
“I don’t know whether he was taking medicines regularly or not. But the type of disease he is suffering from requires regular medication. If a patient discontinues taking medicines, chances are high that the disease will resurface. It has been a year since he visited me for the last time,” added Tripathy.
The ASI’s wife Jayanti Das too confirmed his disease. She said he is suffering from high blood pressure and is taking medicines. “I don’t know he had any enmity with the Minister,” she said.
(Reported by Ashok Brahma from Berhampur, OTV)