Patna: In a chilling reminder of a past tragedy, prominent Patna businessman Gopal Khemka, owner of Magadh Hospital, was shot dead late Friday night by an unidentified bike-borne assailant. The murder took place six years after his son Gunjan Khemka was similarly gunned down in broad daylight.
Gopal Khemka Killed Outside Apartment Near Panache Hotel
The shocking incident occurred around 11:40 PM on July 4, near an apartment close to Panache Hotel in the posh Gandhi Maidan area of Patna. Khemka was returning home when the attacker, waiting nearby, opened fire as he stepped out of his car.
CCTV footage shows the assailant wearing a blue shirt, standing at the main entrance. He appears tense, repeatedly turning back. Moments later, a maroon car and then a white car arrive. As the maroon car stops, the attacker rushes forward and fires at close range before escaping on a motorcycle.
Khemka died on the spot.
A Family Tragedy Repeats Itself
This killing bears an eerie similarity to the 2018 murder of Khemka’s son, Gunjan Khemka, who was also gunned down by an unknown assailant while exiting his car at his cotton factory in Vaishali.
The elder Khemka, 65, was a well-known entrepreneur and also a director of the prestigious Bankipore Club in Patna. His sudden murder has left the city’s business and social circles in deep shock.
Family Alleges Police Inaction
Gopal Khemka’s brother, Shankar Khemka, has accused the police of gross negligence and delayed response. According to him, police arrived nearly three hours after the murder, reaching the scene only at 2:30 AM.
He claimed, “My brother was targeted the moment he reached home. Despite being a high-profile person, the response was shameful. It shows how law and order has crumbled in Bihar.”
Political Storm Over the Killing
With Bihar Assembly elections just months away, the killing has triggered sharp political reactions.
MP Pappu Yadav visited the crime scene and condoled with the family. He questioned the state’s claims of “good governance” under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
RJD leader Rishi Mishra slammed the NDA government, saying,
“The government has completely lost credibility. The police are chasing liquor smugglers instead of protecting lives. People no longer feel safe in Bihar.”
Police Say Investigation Underway
Senior Patna police officer Diksha Kumari said that the investigation is progressing.
“We received the information around 11 PM on July 4. The crime scene has been secured. One bullet and one shell have been recovered,” she stated.
CCTV footage from the area is being closely examined. All angles, including personal and business-related motives, are under scrutiny.
City in Shock, Questions on Safety
Gopal Khemka’s death has left Patna’s business and civil society rattled, raising fresh concerns about the safety of prominent individuals. Both of his murders—father and son—remain high-profile cases with strikingly similar execution styles, yet with no convictions so far.
The public now awaits answers from the police and administration as Bihar reels from yet another targeted killing in its capital.
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