Patna, July 6: Prominent businessman and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Gopal Khemka was shot dead at point-blank range by unidentified assailants near his residence in central Patna late Friday night, sparking a political storm over law and order in Bihar.
The killing occurred at around 11:30 p.m. on July 4, just 300 metres from the Gandhi Maidan police station, but police reportedly arrived at the scene nearly 90 minutes later. According to authorities, Khemka was returning home from the Bankipore Club when two bike-borne gunmen opened fire. He was rushed to a private hospital, where he was declared dead.
Khemka, a well-known industrialist, owned Magadh Hospital and several petrol pumps. His murder follows the earlier killing of his son Gunjan Khemka, who was gunned down in the Hajipur industrial area a few years ago.
Police said they are reviewing CCTV footage and have detained one person for questioning. A special task force has been formed under Patna SSP Kartikey Sharma to track down the assailants.
Patna Inspector General Jitendra Rana visited the scene and promised disciplinary action against police personnel for the delayed response.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar held a high-level review meeting on Saturday and instructed state police to act decisively.
“After a thorough investigation… identify the culprit and ensure strict action without any discrimination,” Kumar said. “If there is any kind of conspiracy behind the criminal incident, then it should also be investigated.”
Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Vijay Kumar Sinha, who visited the grieving family, framed the killing as a direct assault on the rule of law.
“It was not just a murder, but an attempt to challenge law and order,” Sinha told reporters. “Whether they are hiding in some corner of the earth or the other world, they will be pulled out… If needed, there will be encounters as well.”
The opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) accused the ruling government of a complete breakdown of governance.
“Law and order has completely collapsed… Nitish Kumar is in an unconscious state and bureaucrats have totally captured him,” said RJD spokesperson Ejaz Ahmed.
Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav, who also met Khemka’s family, said: “Murders are taking place daily in Bihar… Why doesn’t the media call this Jungle Raj?”
Independent MP Pappu Yadav also visited the family, underlining the political sensitivity surrounding the incident.
In a separate incident on the same evening, three people were shot dead in Siwan district’s Bhagwanpur block, reinforcing concerns about rising violent crime in the state.
The Khemka killing has reignited debate over Bihar’s law enforcement capacity and governance, with both ruling and opposition parties trading barbs as pressure mounts for swift justice.
