Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday said that the state crime branch, which is investigating the murder of health minister Naba Kishore Das, has sought the help of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States of America to study the behavioural pattern of the accused police officer Gopal Das who had shot the minister from close range.
He also lambasted the BJP for politicising the issue.
“The state crime branch is seeking the help of the FBI of the United States of America, as they have the best expertise in behavioural analysis in such cases. We have requested the ministry of home affairs to facilitate an evaluation of the behaviour of the accused by the Behavioral Support Unit of the FBI,” Naveen said while making a statement on the issue in the Odisha Legislative Assembly.
As the House proceedings commenced for the day amid the ruckus by the Opposition, Naveen made a statement on the issue.
He said: “I want to reassure the House that no stone will be left unturned in ensuring a full, fair and open investigation in the case with the assistance of the best forensic experts in India and abroad.”
The accused police officer Gopal Das, an assistant sub-inspector of police, killed the minister with his service revolver at Brajrajnagar in Jharsuguda district on January 29.
Since then the crime branch is investigating the case and trying to find out what could be the motive behind the crime.
Both the BJP and the Congress have targeted the Odisha government on the issue which led to pandemonium disrupting House business for the last two days.
The BJP has been demanding a CBI probe into the murder. Naveen said: “The crime branch has taken the services of the best forensic experts in the country for this case. The state forensic science laboratory, the central forensic science laboratory in NewDelhi and the Gujarat forensic science laboratory at Gandhi Nagar are assisting the Odishacrime branch.”
Stating that politics on a sensitive crime is not a good sign for democracy, Naveen said: “I pity the Opposition, especially the state BJP that has no other agenda except politicising heinous crimes and demoralising our police force which is the pride of Odisha.”
Without naming the Leader of Opposition JayanarayanMishra who had allegedly slapped a woman police officer at Sambalpur on February 15, Naveen said: “Assaulting a woman police officer on duty by a person holding high constitutional post is deplorable and disgraceful. Odisha has always respected its women and will never forgive such shameful behaviour.”
Reacting to the statement of the chief minister, senior Congress MLA Narasingha Mishra said: “The chief minister has not said anything new.
The conspiracy angle has not been touched. It’s a deep-rooted conspiracy. We are demanding an investigation by the Special Investigation Team(SIT) monitored by the high court.”
The BJP leaders also criticised the chief minister.
“We are not politicising the issue. The state should have faith in CBI,” said BJP MP Suresh Pujari.
