Patna, July 9: An accused in the high-profile murder of Bihar businessman Gopal Khemka was shot dead in a police encounter late Monday in Patna, intensifying political scrutiny on the state government ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
The accused, identified as Vikas, was killed in the Malsalami area of the Bihar capital. He allegedly accompanied the shooter, Umesh, who gunned down Khemka outside the gates of his residence on Friday night. Umesh was arrested earlier by a joint team of the Special Task Force and Patna Police.
Khemka, a well-known entrepreneur who owned Magadh Hospital and several petrol pumps, was sitting in his car near his home when a gunman approached and opened fire before fleeing the scene. His killing has sparked outrage and renewed concerns about law and order in the state.
In addition to Umesh, police have detained another individual suspected of commissioning the murder as part of a contract killing. “Both persons have been held in Patna. The investigation is progressing, and more details will be shared in due course,” a senior police official said.
The incident has become a flashpoint for political opposition, with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress criticising the Janata Dal (United)-Bharatiya Janata Party coalition government over the deteriorating security situation in Bihar.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar held an emergency meeting with top officials following the murder and directed the police to expedite the investigation. He reiterated that the “rule of law” is the government’s top priority and warned of strict action in cases of police negligence.
This is not the first tragedy to strike the Khemka family. The businessman’s son was murdered seven years ago in Hajipur in connection with a land dispute. The killing and subsequent encounter have added to the pressure on the state administration as it prepares for Assembly elections, with critics pointing to rising crime and governance failures.
