Odisha Health Minister Naba Kishore Das was shot dead by an Assistant Sub-Inspector near Gandhi Chowk near Brijraj Nagar in Jharsuguda district around 1 pm on Sunday.
He was on his way to attend an event when he was shot and sustained a bullet wound in the chest.
The police officer fired two shots, seriously injuring the minister, who was taken to hospital. He was later airlifted to Bhubaneswar, eyewitnesses said.
Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police (ASI) Gopal Das fired at the minister. The minister is injured and has been taken to a hospital,” Brijrajnagar Sub-Divisional Police Officer Gupteshwar Bhoi told reporters.
Gopal Das was caught by locals, and has been taken into custody, police said.
Witnesses claim that he was shot when he got out of his car. The motives behind the attack are still unclear.
Videos from the scene show Das bleeding from his chest as people try to lift the injured minister, who appeared unconscious, into the front seat of the car.
At the inauguration of the Public Grievance Office, Naba Das was the Chief Guest.
“When he arrived, a crowd gathered to welcome him. Suddenly there was a sound of gunfire. An eyewitness said we saw a policeman running away after being shot at close range.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has condemned the attack, and directed the Crime Branch to investigate.
Moment When Odisha Health Minister #NabaDas Shot. pic.twitter.com/jgBv3NrNPf
— Sandeep Panwar (@tweet_sandeep) January 29, 2023
