Assistant Sub-inspector of Police (ASI) Goplakrishna Das who has been arrested for shooting Odishaโs Health Minister Naba Kishore Das has been suffering from bipolar disorder for close to a decade.
Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder characterised by mood fluctuations between high episodes of mania to low episodes of depression. The condition can be kept under control through regular psychotherapy and medications.
ASI Das openly fired on Health Minister Naba Das on 29th January, 2023 as the minister was being garlanded during his attendance at a local programme and made an attempt to flee when one of the bulletโs hit its target. However, he was immediately arrested and has been booked under section 307 IPC read with 27 Arms Act.
MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur, Psychiatry department head Dr Chandra Sekhar Tripathy has confirmed that ASI Das has been undergoing treatment for his bipolar symptoms for eight to ten years.
Unfortunately, the last time he visited his psychiatrist was one year ago. Hence his intake of regular medications is a doubt.
Dasโ wife was also aware of his ongoing treatment for the disorder but is unsure if he was taking his medicines since he is stationed away from his family.
The police will be conducting a psychological assessment on Das to obtain the current severity of his condition. The case is now being investigated by CID. The main question being, how was ASI Das handed a service revolver despite his unstable mental condition.
Bipolar disorder, if not monitored closely leads to extreme behaviours from the patient during their mood of mania or depression. Hence, inspite of complete functionality, the disorder may cause harm to the patient and others in severe cases.
