The law and order situation in Patna is once again under scrutiny. On Friday night, around 11:40 PM, Gopal Khemka, a well-known businessman and associated with the BJP, was shot dead outside his home in the Gandhi Maidan police station area. As Khemka got out of his car and moved towards his house, two attackers on a motorcycle targeted him from close range, showering him with bullets. What is shocking is that the entire incident occurred just a few steps away from the Gandhi Maidan police station, yet it took the police over an hour to arrive at the scene. Local residents and family members have expressed their displeasure at this police negligence.
Immediately after the incident, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar called a high-level meeting regarding the state's law and order and gave clear instructions to ensure that no leniency is shown in the investigation. The police headquarters, taking the matter seriously, also formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which includes officers from special forces and district police. Investigations are underway in every direction of the case.
Possible Old Enmity
In the initial investigation, the police suspect old enmity as a possible motive behind the murder. DGP Vinay Kumar himself has said that a past dispute could be a major reason behind Khemka's murder. The police have found some crucial clues in this case, which has led to significant progress in identifying the killers.
It is reported that Khemka was returning from Bankipore Club at the time of the incident, and as soon as he got out of his car and moved towards his house, the attackers opened fire on him. It is also worth noting that Khemka's elder son was also murdered in 2018 in Hajipur over a land dispute. After that incident, Gopal Khemka was provided security, but this security was withdrawn in April 2024. He did not request security again after that. Now, after this attack, police protection has been provided to his younger son (who is a doctor by profession) and other family members.
In this connection, on Saturday evening, the Patna police raided Beur Jail. During the search, the police found three mobile phones, a data cable, and a piece of paper on which several suspicious mobile numbers were written. The police believe that some prisoners in jail may also be connected to this murder case, and they are being interrogated.
Leaders Question Law and Order
The incident has also caused an uproar in the state's politics. Union Minister Chirag Paswan, terming the murder as highly condemnable, said that this incident is a direct attack on law and order. He questioned how such a major incident could happen when the police station is just a few meters away. Chirag demanded that the government arrest the culprits soon and take strict steps to prevent such incidents in the future.
Meanwhile, Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha met the bereaved family members on Sunday and said that this is not just a murder, but an attempt to challenge the state's system. He made it clear that the criminals will not be spared, and if needed, an encounter will also be carried out. The Deputy CM claimed that the culprits involved in the murder have been identified and they will be arrested soon.
Questions Raised Over Police Action
Khemka's family members have alleged that the police reached the spot about two hours after the incident, which further increased their anger and grief. However, DGP Vinay Kumar dismissed these allegations, saying that the police received information about the incident around 12:30 AM on Saturday night. According to the DGP, immediately after the incident, the family took Gopal Khemka to a private hospital in Kankarbagh for treatment, which took about 30 to 35 minutes. The police were informed about the incident by the hospital administration, after which senior officers reached the spot around 12:40 AM.
The DGP said that there was no delay in the police action. Everything happened under the prescribed procedure, and now investigations are being carried out thoroughly in every direction.
The murder of a high-profile businessman in the capital Patna has not only raised questions about the city's security system but has also become a topic of discussion in political circles. Now, it remains to be seen how quickly the police investigation progresses and whether the culprits are really arrested soon and concrete steps are taken towards justice. For now, the Khemka murder has put the Bihar government under scrutiny regarding law and order.
