The police in Patna, Bihar, have scored another victory in the case of businessman Gopal Khemka's murder. In a dramatic encounter, Vikas alias Raja, a criminal in the Mal Salami area, was killed by police. Raja had supplied the weapons used in Khemka's murder. Following intelligence reports, the police attempted to arrest him, leading to an intense gunfight.
Midnight Showdown
In the early hours, at 2:45 AM, a confrontation occurred near the Pir Damaria Ghat, two kilometers west of the Malsalami Police Station, resulting in the death of 29-year-old Raja. Following the incident, the Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Patna City rushed to the scene to conduct an investigation. Authorities recovered a pistol, bullets, and a shell casing from the site, and Raja’s body was sent for post-mortem examination.
JD(U) leader Rajiv Ranjan stated, 'According to the information we received, the police neutralized a suspect from the Khemka murder case, who attempted to attack them. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is closely monitoring every incident.'
Prior Detainment of Shooter
Previously, Umesh Kumar, a shooter involved in this sensational murder, was detained in connection to the case. He is considered one of the principal suspects. The SIT team pursued further leads, eventually locating Raja, who was fatally shot in an encounter. The efforts to capture Raja were initiated based on Umesh's confessions.
Shooting Near Hotel
On that fateful Saturday, near Patna’s Gandhi Maidan Police Station, Gopal Khemka was shot near the Panas Hotel as he was alighting from his car at his apartment. It was clear the assailant was lying in wait, ready to strike. Khemka's family rushed him to the hospital, where he was declared dead. The police have intensified their investigation, suspecting that land disputes and old enmities could be motivations behind the murder.
Previous Family Tragedy
Remarkably, this wasn't the first time the Khemka family was targeted. In 2019, Gopal Khemka's elder son, Gunjan Khemka, was shot dead by criminals in the Vaishali district. At that time, Gopal Khemka had been provided with security, but it was withdrawn last year. The renewed targeting of the Khemka family has stirred up widespread anxiety in the capital once again.
