New Delhi: On the killing of Odisha Health Minister Naba Kishore Das, President Droupadi Murmu said that she was shocked and disturbed. She offered her condolences to the minister's family, PTI reported.
"Shocked and disturbed by the death of Shri Naba Kishore Das ji, Odisha Health minister, in a dastardly act of violence. My deepest condolences to his family and well-wishers," President Murmu tweeted.
On Sunday evening, the Odisha government announced that the state honour would be accorded to Kishore Das, who died hours after being shot by a policeman. The accused policeman is believed to be suffering from a mental disorder, as his wife claimed. He has been under treatment for bipolar disorder in Odisha's Jharsuguda.
After the unfortunate incident, the state government issued a release saying that there would be no entertainment from January 29-31 across the state.
"It has been decided by the Government of Odisha that as a mark of respect, state honour would be accorded to the departed dignitary. The national flag will be flown at half-mast on the day of death in the state capital and on the day of the funeral at the place where it takes place," an official release said.
The minister, 60, was shot at Brajrajnagar town around 1 pm by Assistant Sub-inspector of Police (ASI) Gopal Das, who is believed to be suffering from a mental disorder.
A team of doctors at Apollo Hospitals operated on him after he was airlifted from Jharsugada to Bhubaneshwar, but he eventually succumbed to injuries.