Businessman Gopal Khemka Shot Dead in Patna, Echoes Son's 2018 Killing
Prominent businessman Gopal Khemka, owner of Magadh Hospital and director at Bankipore Club, was shot dead by unidentified bike-borne assailants near his residence in the upscale Gandhi Maidan area of Patna, Bihar, on Friday night, in a chilling repeat of the 2018 murder of his son Gunjan Khemka.
The attack took place around 11:40 pm as Khemka was stepping out of his car near Panache Hotel. According to his brother Shankar Khemka, the police arrived only at 2:30 am, nearly three hours after the shooting, drawing sharp criticism from the family and public alike.
The killing has triggered a wave of political backlash just months before the assembly elections. MP Pappu Yadav visited the scene and criticized the state’s deteriorating law and order. RJD leader Rishi Mishra launched a scathing attack on the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government, alleging a complete breakdown of governance and intelligence.
Senior police official Diksha Kumari confirmed that an investigation is underway, with CCTV footage being reviewed and a bullet and shell recovered from the scene.
The murder mirrors the tragic fate of Gopal’s son Gunjan Khemka, who was gunned down in broad daylight in 2018 outside his cotton factory in Vaishali, also by bike-borne shooters.
With public trust shaken and political pressure mounting, this latest killing has reignited concerns over safety of businessmen in Bihar and the efficacy of policing in the capital city.
