Crime Branch wing of the Odisha police is seeking the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States to ascertain the motive of the assassin who shot dead the former health minister Naba Kishore Das on 29 January in Jharsuguda district.

“The Crime Branch is seeking the help of the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States of America, as they have the best expertise in behavioral analysis in such cases. The State Government has requested the Ministry of Home Affairs of Central Government to facilitate an evaluation of the behavior of the accused by the Behavioral Support Unit of the FBI of the United States of America”, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told the Odisha Assembly on Wednesday in a written statement.

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It may be recalled here that Gopal Krishna Das, an Assistant Sub Inspector of Police, had gunned down the former health Minister Naba Kishore Das in Brajarajnagar of Jharsuguda district on 29 January.

Opposition parties continue to train guns on the BJD on the high-profile murder case as the beleaguered Crime Branch wing of State police investigating the case is still groping in dark more than three weeks after the assassination to ascertain the motive of the former minister’s murder.

Patnaik’s statement on the sensational murder case has come at a time when the budget session of the Assembly has been disrupted for the past two days with the opposition insisting on a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe of the case alleging the cover-up of the case by the Crime Branch.

It may be noted here that the Leader of Opposition (LoP) and BJP leader Jayanarayan Mishra had leveled allegation against chief minister’s close aides, BJD organizing secretary Pranab Prakash Das and 5T secretary VK Pandian, pressing forth demand that they be brought under the purview of the ongoing probe.

Rubbishing the allegation leveled by the Opposition, Patnaik said, “The manner in which this very sensitive case is being politicized has shocked me as well as the people of Odisha. It is disturbing to see the baseless and malicious allegations that are being made”.

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, he reiterated.

“Independent judiciary is one of the strongest pillars of our democracy. After the High Court has appointed a retired High Court Judge to monitor the investigation of the case, the whole police investigation will be subjected to judicial scrutiny. So, what is the need to do politics in the case and make baseless and malicious allegations?” Patnaik questioned.

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 Orissa.

The entire police force has been unreasonably termed as criminals based on the act of a single policeman. This is an insult to the 90,000 Police and Home Guard personnel who are young Odia boys and girls and to their family members, he said while assailing the BJP for politicizing the case.

In view of the very sensitive nature of this incident, a Crime Branch investigation was ordered immediately. To ensure transparency in the investigation, the government had requested the Orissa High Court to nominate one sitting/retired Judge of HC to monitor the investigation of this case.  The High Court nominated Justice J.P. Das (retired) to monitor the investigation of the case, he said.

The Crime Branch has taken services of the best forensic experts in the country in this case. The State Forensic Science laboratory, the Central Forensic Science Laboratory at New Delhi and the Gujarat State Forensic Science Laboratory at Gandhi Nagar are assisting the Odisha Crime Branch.

Based on the witness examination and the interrogation of the accused person, a psychiatric evaluation of Gopal Das has been carried out by a Board consisting of four Psychiatric experts.  Besides, to examine whether the accused is telling the truth or is being deceptive, he has been subjected to Forensic Psychological Assessment and Layered Voice Analysis Test by experts from the Central Forensic Science laboratory, New Delhi.

He was also subjected to Narco-analysis by experts at the Gujarat State Forensic Science Laboratory to detect deception or any additional clue.  So, all possible steps are being taken and the best experts are being consulted, CM Patnaik said in the statement.