In a chilling repeat of tragedy, BJP leader and prominent businessman Gopal Khemka was shot dead late Friday night in Patna, Bihar, sending shockwaves across the state. The attack, eerily reminiscent of his son’s brutal killing six years ago, has once again raised serious concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation in the region.
According to Patna police, Khemka had just returned home from Bankipur Club around 11 PM, and was stepping out of his car at his Ramgulam Chowk residence, when he was shot at point-blank range by an unidentified assailant on a motorcycle. The gunman fled the scene immediately after the attack. Khemka was rushed to a private hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.
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VIDEO | Patna, Bihar: Prominent businessman Gopal Khemka was shot dead near his residence in Patna by a bike-borne assailant late Friday. CCTV visuals of the incident.#PatnaNews #BiharNews
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(Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/4prOkBy3zH
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 5, 2025
A Haunting Déjà Vu
This tragic incident starkly mirrors the 2018 murder of Gopal Khemka’s son, Gunjan Khemka, who was shot dead by a bike-borne assailant outside his factory in the Hajipur Industrial Estate. Gunjan, the owner of G K Cotton Mill, had also been ambushed in broad daylight—an attack that had stunned the business community at the time.
Now, with Gopal Khemka falling victim to an almost identical modus operandi, questions are being raised about unresolved threats and the failure of law enforcement to prevent recurring violence.
Investigation Launched, STF and CID Join Probe
Following the incident, Bihar’s Director General of Police (DGP) Binay Kumar ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and directed both the Special Task Force (STF) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to assist Patna police in tracking down the culprits.
City Superintendent of Police confirmed that multiple 9mm rounds were fired during the ambush, some even while Khemka was still inside the vehicle. “We are examining CCTV footage and have begun conducting raids. The motive is yet unclear,” the officer stated.
Political Reactions: “Bihar Has Become a Sanctuary for Criminals”
The incident has sparked an uproar, with Independent MP from Purnea, Pappu Yadav (Rajesh Ranjan), visiting the murder site and strongly criticizing the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government.
“Bihar has become a sanctuary for criminals! Nitish ji, please spare Bihar,” Yadav posted on X (formerly Twitter), expressing deep anguish over the unchecked rise in targeted killings.
He recalled his visit to the Khemka family in 2018 after Gunjan’s murder and said,
“If strict action had been taken back then, Gopal Khemka would still be alive today. This regime has turned into a mega-thug state where no one is safe.”
Yadav’s remarks echo a broader public sentiment over increasing criminal impunity in Bihar, with many citizens and political observers pointing to a lack of accountability and delayed justice in high-profile murder cases.
Business Community and Public in Shock
Khemka was a well-known figure in Patna’s business and political circles. His death has left the local BJP unit stunned, while traders and industrialists across Bihar have expressed fear and outrage. Several business associations are reportedly planning to hold protests and demand a judicial inquiry into both murders.
The tragic loss of both father and son in similar gun attacks has left the Khemka family devastated and raised urgent calls for reform in Bihar’s security apparatus.
Law and Order Under Scrutiny
The incident adds to a growing list of targeted killings in Bihar that have not seen swift convictions. Critics argue that the state government’s inability to deliver justice in previous cases has emboldened criminal elements.
With public trust in law enforcement at a low, many are questioning how a repeat crime of this nature could occur, especially when it involved a politically connected figure.
What Next?
As investigations continue, the spotlight is once again on Bihar’s fragile security system. The case will test the efficiency and resolve of the Nitish Kumar government to curb political and business-targeted crimes in the state.
Whether justice will be delivered this time — or history will once again repeat itself — remains to be seen.
