Patna Businessman Shot Dead by Bikers, 6 Years After Son’s Eerily Similar Murder
In a chilling echo of a past tragedy, prominent Patna-based businessman Gopal Khemka was shot dead by unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants late on Friday night. The murder took place in the city’s posh Gandhi Maidan area, six years after his son, Gunjan Khemka, was killed in a strikingly similar manner.
The 70-year-old owner of the city’s well-known Magadh Hospital was attacked at around 11:40 pm as he was getting out of his car near an apartment close to his residence. The brazen killing in a high-security zone has sent shockwaves through the state capital and triggered a political firestorm.
Patna Police have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the high-profile murder. “On the night of July 4, at around 11 pm, we received information that businessman Gopal Khemka has been shot dead… The crime scene has been secured, and further investigation is underway,” said senior police official Diksha Kumari. She confirmed that one bullet and one shell were recovered from the scene and that CCTV footage from the area is being scrutinised for clues.
Khemka’s family has alleged gross negligence by the police. The victim’s brother, Shankar Khemka, claimed that while the shooting happened at 11:40 pm, police officers did not arrive at the scene until nearly three hours later, at 2:30 am.
The incident bears a haunting resemblance to the murder of Khemka’s son, Gunjan, in 2018. Gunjan, then 38, was also shot dead by bike-borne assailants in broad daylight just as he was about to step out of his car in front of his factory on the outskirts of Patna.
With Bihar assembly elections just a few months away, the killing has provided fresh ammunition to the opposition. MP Pappu Yadav visited the family to offer his condolences and sharply questioned the Nitish Kumar-led government’s claims of “sushasan” (good governance), highlighting the deteriorating law and order situation.
