Nabakishore Das Laid To Rest With Full State Honours

Jharsuguda: Amid the chanting of Vedic mantras by priests, the mortal remains of former Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Naba Kishore Das, were consigned to flames at Kherual in Jharsuguda full state honour on Monday.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, BJP leader and LoP Jayanarayan Mishra, and several other leaders paid their tributes to the late leader at his residence in the national capital.

A galaxy of state leaders, including Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari, MPs, MLAs, and former lawmakers also visited Das’s official residence and several others participated in the funeral.

The wife of Das along with his son and daughter also attended the last rites of her husband. She was seen weeping inconsolably.

Earlier, a large crowd gathered outside Das’s residence to pay last respect to the departed leader.

According to an official statement released by the Odisha Home Department, the national flag was flown at half-mast on Sunday — the day Das succumbed to his bullet injuries, and the same will be done on the day of his funeral — the day where the funeral will take place. No official entertainment for three days from January 29 to January 31 throughout the state,” the official release read.

Naba Kishore Das was shot by an assistant sub-inspector of police in the Jharsuguda district. Das received bullet injuries to his chest and was rushed to hospital for treatment. He breathed his last at Apollo Hospital in Bhubaneswar on Sunday.

A cop fired at least four to five bullets when Naba Das stepped out of his car at Gandhi square. The incident took place in Brajrajnagar town of the district when the minister was on his way to attend a meeting. The accused, identified as ASI Gopal Das, was nabbed by local people, who then handed him over to the police.

Even as a team of the Odisha Crime Branch is investigating the motive behind the killing of Das, an FIR lodged by Pradyumna Swain, Inspector-In-Charge (IIC) of Brajarajnagar police station, states that the accused Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Gopal Krushna Das had fired at the minister ‘with a clear intention to kill.’