Encounter Breakthrough: Key Accused in Gopal Khemka Murder Shot Dead by Police in Patna

National News: After the brutal murder of prominent Patna businessman Gopal Khemka, the Bihar Police have achieved a major breakthrough. Vikas, alias Raja, one of the key accused in the case, was shot dead in an encounter by police in the Malsalami police station area early in the morning. According to police officials, Raja was the person who allegedly supplied the weapon used in Khemka’s murder.

The encounter took place at around 2:45 am when a police team reached the Damaiya Ghat area to arrest Raja. As per official statements, Raja opened fire on the team, prompting retaliatory firing in which he was killed. A pistol, one live cartridge, and an empty shell were recovered from the spot. His body was sent to Nalanda Medical College for postmortem examination.

Murder Plot and Political Shadows

Notably, Gopal Khemka was shot dead outside his residence on the night of July 4, at approximately 11:40 pm, while he was stepping out of his car. The killers fled the scene immediately after the attack, creating panic across the city.

Meanwhile, on Monday, police reportedly detained the prime suspect, Umesh, although official confirmation of his arrest is still awaited. Interestingly, Bihar BJP leader Neeraj Kumar has alleged that the murder was the result of a political conspiracy. He claimed on social media that the shooter was hired by a political figure and paid to carry out the assassination.

Well-Planned Conspiracy with Use of Technology

According to the police, Khemka’s murder was not a random act of violence but a meticulously planned conspiracy. Sources indicate that along with shooters, spotters were involved in the operation who monitored Khemka’s movements in real-time. Moreover, police were able to track several suspects using mobile location data and CCTV footage.

A shocking detail emerged when one of the suspects, Roshan Kumar, a resident of Punpun (Patna), was spotted attending Khemka’s funeral. Police detained him at the cremation site. On the same day, more than a dozen suspects were taken into custody, and interrogation is ongoing.

Businessmen's Safety Under Question in Bihar

The brutal killing of Gopal Khemka has once again raised serious questions about the safety of entrepreneurs and businessmen in Bihar. The fact that a prominent businessman was shot dead in front of his home, and the attackers managed to flee without resistance, highlights glaring issues in the state's law and order system.

The police have assured that they are committed to uncovering every aspect of the conspiracy. However, if the allegations of political involvement turn out to be true, it could spark a major controversy surrounding Bihar's political environment and policing practices in the coming days.