• Source:JND
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Patna Businessman Murder: The murder of prominent Bihar-based businessman Gopal Khemka outside his Patna residence created a huge outrage in the poll-bound state on Saturday, drawing sharp criticism from the opposition parties over the deteriorating law and order situation ahead of the assembly elections. Following the incident, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar held a high-level meeting to review the law and order situation in the state during which he instructed officials to complete the investigation at the earliest, officials said.

The senior businessman was shot dead outside his residence by a bike-borne assailant, seven years after miscreants had gunned down his son in Hajipur.

The killing was captured on the CCTV installed at his residence. The CCTV footage showed a man coming on a bike as Khemka's car reached the gate of the home. The attacker, wearing a black helmet in a blue shirt, comes close to the businessman’s car at the entrance, as shown in the video clip. The assailant shot Khemka, who was sitting in the driver’s seat in the car. After killing him, the attacker started his bike and fled the scene.

Crime In Posh Area Near Gandhi Maidan

The incident took place around 11.40 pm on Friday near the gate of Khemka's house in Gandhi Maidan locality as he was about to alight from his car, they said.

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Khemka was reportedly associated with the BJP. A statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office said Kumar emphasised at the meeting that the rule of law is top priority for the NDA government, and "warned of strict action against police personnel in case of negligence".

He also instructed officials concerned to complete the investigation at the earliest, it added. SP (Patna Central) Diksha told reporters that officers of the local police station and personnel in patrolling vehicles had immediately reached the spot and secured the crime scene.

A bullet and a cartridge have been recovered from the spot. Preliminary investigation suggests he was gunned down by an unidentified bike-borne assailant, she said.

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Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha met the bereaved family members of the businessman later in the day. "This is not just a murder, but an attempt to challenge law and order. In this hour of sorrow, we all stand with the family. Those involved in this heinous act will be arrested. People who take the law into their own hands will not be spared. If required, encounters will also take place," he said.

What Police Said After Businessman Killed

"Property of absconding criminals are also being bulldozed in the state. Police and administration have been given free hand to tackle criminals," he added.

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The criminals have been identified and they will soon be nabbed, he claimed. Some relatives and family members of Khemka alleged that police personnel arrived at the spot nearly two hours after the incident.

Bihar DGP Vinay Kumar, however, denied the charge. "There is no question of delay in police action. In fact, information about the incident reached the police around 12.30 am on Saturday. After the shooting took place at 11.40 pm on Friday, his family members took him to a private hospital in Kankarbagh locality, which took almost 30-35 minutes. It was the hospital authorities that alerted police. Senior officers reached the crime scene around 12.40 am," Kumar said. Senior officers reached the crime scene around 12.40 am, he added.
(With PTI inputs)