Last Update: January 30, 2023, 2:01 PM IST
Odisha Health Minister Naba Das died of bullet injuries on Sunday, January 29, 2023, near Brajrajnagar in Jharsuguda district. (PTI photo)
While Das was killed in Jharsuguda district by a police officer allegedly suffering from mental disorder, on January 29, 2023, BJD MLA Jagabandhu Manjhi was shot dead by Maoists during an official function in Nabarangpur district in 2011 It was done.
Odisha’s Health and Family Welfare Minister Naba Kishore Das became the first minister and second legislator in the state after the assassination of BJD MLA Jagabandhu Majhi by Maoists in 2011.
While Das was killed allegedly by a police officer suffering from mental disorder in Jharsuguda district, Majhi was killed in firing by Maoists during an official function in Nabarangpur district on January 29, 2023.
A home department official said the Odisha government had allotted personal security officers (PSOs) to all MPs after Majhi’s murder in 2011.
The attack on Health Minister Das at Gandhi Chowk in Brajrajnagar of Jharsuguda district reminded people of the vulnerability of public figures in the insurgency-hit state.
Jagabandhu Manjhi, the then MLA from Umarkot in Nabarangpur district, was distributing land-ownership certificates in a village in his constituency when three unidentified men opened fire on him and his personal security officer (PSO) in September 2011. MLA and PSO died in the incident.
Maoists are suspected to be involved in the attack.
Similarly, two men opened fire on the then Tourism and Culture Minister Maheshwar Mohanty when he was returning home from a function in Puri city on February 22, 2014.
However, Mohanty narrowly escaped the attack as doctors removed the bullets from his left arm and back. Police investigation has revealed that the attack was probably done over a land property dispute.
Former JMM leader and now BJD MLA Sudam Marandi also faced an attack by suspected Maoists. Marandi, however, survived the assassination attempt.
Three security personnel accompanying Marandi were killed in the incident. The incident happened during a football match near Bandam village in Mayurbhanj district.
Similarly, Dhanurjay Sidhu, a Congress MLA from Champua in Keonjhar, also faced an attempt to murder. On February 26, 2007, when the MLA was going to a program in his vehicle, unidentified persons opened fire. He also survived after doctors removed the bullets from his lower abdomen.
Abhimanyu Sahu, husband of Odisha’s Commerce and Transport Minister Tukuni Sahu, who is also a BJD leader, was killed by some miscreants while on his morning walk on December 15, 2013.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)