Patna: In a chilling reminder of the growing crime concerns in Bihar’s capital, prominent industrialist Gopal Khemka was shot dead late Friday night near his residence in Ramgulam Chowk, under the Gandhi Maidan police station area. The incident occurred just 300 metres from the police station, raising serious questions about law and order and police response time.
According to initial reports, the crime took place around 11:30 pm when Khemka was returning home from Bankipur Club, driving his own vehicle. As he neared the gate of his apartment building, two assailants on a motorcycle, who were allegedly waiting in ambush, shot him in the head at close range. The attackers fled the scene immediately after the shooting.
Family members rushed Khemka to Mediversal Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment. The news of his death has triggered outrage among local residents and political figures, many of whom visited the family overnight.
Police Response Questioned
Family members and eyewitnesses have accused the local police of delayed response and negligence. Shankar Khemka, the victim’s younger brother, said,
“The Gandhi Maidan police station is only 300 metres away, yet no one reached the spot for nearly two hours. We made repeated calls, but no one answered. Only after informing ADG Headquarters Kundan Krishnan, did the police finally take action.”
Shankar further alleged,
“They call Lalu Yadav’s tenure ‘Jungle Raj’, but look at what’s happening now. Goons are roaming free, while the police harass ordinary people. The administration has failed us. The District Magistrate’s orders are being ignored.”
MP Pappu Yadav, along with Patna SSP, City SP, and other senior officers, visited the residence following the outrage. A Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team has collected evidence from the scene. Special Task Force (STF) personnel have also been deployed to trace and apprehend the assailants.
Second Tragedy in the Family
This is the second murder in the Khemka family in recent years. In 2018, Gopal Khemka’s elder son Gunjan Khemka was shot dead in front of his cotton factory in Hajipur Industrial Area. No substantial breakthrough was achieved in that case either.
Gopal Khemka, who was a well-known figure in Bihar’s industrial circles, owned businesses ranging from petrol pumps to textile factories and hospitals. He was also the director of Bankipur Club. He is survived by two sons and a daughter. His younger son, Dr. Gaurav Khemka, works at IGIMS Patna, while his daughter is based in London.
