Last rites of Naba Das to be performed in Jharsuguda

Bhubaneswar: The last rites of Odisha Minister Naba Das will be performed today in Jharsuguda, family sources said.

The body will be taken from Bhubaneswar to Jharsuguda in a chopper, sources added. Das was the legislator of the Jharsuguda Assembly Constituency.

This morning, many dignitaries and political leaders cutting across party lines paid last respect to the departed soul at his official residence here.

Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also paid floral tributes to the mortal remains of Das at the official residence.

Das was allegedly shot in chest by an ASI of police at Gandhi Chhak in Brajrajnagar area of Jharsuguda district, yesterday. The firing took place when the minister alighted from a car to attend a programme and his supporters were garlanding him.

He was rescued in a critical condition and rushed to the Jharsuguda District Headquarters Hospital for treatment. As his condition deteriorated, the minister was then airlifted to Bhubaneswar, where he was admitted to Apollo Hospital.

However, he succumbed to bullet injuries while undergoing treatment at the private hospital.

“The Health Minister was admitted to Apollo Hospital with gunshot wounds to the left chest. A team of doctors led by Dr. Debashish Nayak immediately attended the Minister and operated on him. Upon operation, it was found that a single bullet had entered and exited the body, injuring the heart and left lung and causing massive internal bleeding. The injuries were repaired, and steps were taken to improve the pumping of the heart. He was given urgent ICU care. But despite best of efforts, he could not be revived. The Minister succumbed to his injuries,” said a statement issued by the hospital.