Naba Das murder: BJP MLA Jayanarayan Mishra to meet Odisha CM to demand CBI probe

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Odisha is calling for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the murder of former state Health Minister Naba Das. Senior BJP leader and Sambalpur MLA Jayanarayan Mishra plans to meet Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to push for a Central investigation, the senior leader said on Thursday.

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Mishra insists that those responsible for the crime must be brought to justice.

The BJP leader questioned why information regarding the murder emerged more than two years after it occurred on January 29, 2023. He emphasized that regardless of the reasons behind Naba Das's assassination, those culpable must face the consequences.

Opposition parties demand CBI probe

“I will demand before Mohan Majhi government that a CBI investigation be conducted. I will also exert necessary pressure on him for the probe. However, the final call in this regard will be taken by the Mohan Majhi government,” Jayanarayan Mishra said.

“The family of Naba Das met the CM yesterday. Who knows how their consciousness got aroused after two years of the incident?” the BJP leader questioned.

“I am looking into the requisite formalities and accordingly will put up my demand before the Chief Minister for a CBI inquiry. Whatever be reason behind the murder, a killing is a ‘killing’ after all,” the Sambalpur legislator added.

Simultaneously, the Congress party suggested an immediate transfer of the investigation to the CBI. They argue that if accused Gopal Das is found not guilty, he should be released on bail, and the genuine criminals should be captured.

“A CBI inquiry should be done. Family members of Naba Babu do not have faith in the current investigation. Whoever is behind Gopal Das must be arrested soon,” senior Congress leader Tara Prasad Bahinipati expressed.

Besides, in Jharsuguda district, the Odisha Crime Branch is conducting extensive interviews at the local hospital. Investigators have spoken with a doctor about Naba Das' condition following the firing.

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The team has also taken statements from the former Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO), Dolamani Patel, probing into the circumstances surrounding Naba Das' admission and the airlift procedures to Bhubaneswar.

Additionally, the probe team explored the locality around Brajarajnagar's Gandhi Chowk, the site of the shooting, to gather further insights into the fatal incident.