NEW DELHI: Police are investigating the murder of businessman Gopal Khemka who was shot dead near Gandhi Maidan in Patna, Bihar on July 4 around 11 pm, with one bullet and shell recovered from the crime scene.Superintendent of Police (SP) Patna, Diksha confirmed the incident stating, “On the night of July 4, at around 11 pm, we received information that businessman Gopal Khemka has been shot dead in the south area of the Gandhi Maidan.”“The crime scene has been secured, and further investigation is underway… One bullet and one shell have been recovered,” the SP added.RJD leader Mrityunjay Tiwari says, “It is very sad. The government will have to answer as a businessman was killed in the posh area of Gandhi Maidan. The police reached after two hours. It happened near the police headquarters. Tejashwi Yadav has been showing the crime bulletin, but this government is sleeping… Bihar wants to get rid of this government now… It is a Gunda Raj, what else?”
Echoes 2018 killing of son Gunjan Khemka
Earlier in 2018, Gopal’s son Gunjan Khemka, then a prominent BJP leader and state convener of the party’s small industries cell, was also shot dead in similar manner at his cotton bandage factory in Hajipur. Despite his active role in the BJP, the funeral was marked by a noticeable absence of the party’s top leadership.On the day of Gunjan’s funeral, several senior Congress leaders, including Shaktisinh Gohil, Madan Mohan Jha, and Sadanand Singh, visited the family’s residence near Gandhi Maidan to express condolences. However, top BJP leaders did not attend. Though state BJP president Nityanand Rai eventually visited the Khemka residence later in the evening after arriving from Delhi, the family was reportedly hurt by the perceived apathy. Such was their disappointment that the family declined to take Gunjan’s body to the party office for last rites, despite plans to do so earlier. “Gunjan used to spend 3–4 hours every day working for the BJP. Yet no senior leader or minister even raised their voice against his killing,” his uncle Ram Khemka told TOI at Gulbi Ghat crematorium. Only a few BJP leaders, including MLAs Nitin Navin, Arun Kumar Sinha, and Sanjeev Chaurasia, were present at the funeral.
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