One of the key suspects in the murder case of a renowned Patna businessman, Gopal Khemka, has fallen dead in an encounter between the Bihar Police and one of the key suspects. When the operation to arrest the accused escalated into a gunfight, the suspect was killed, as reported by the police, who had made a late-night operation to arrest the accused.
The victim, whose name has not yet been confirmed publicly, was wanted over the high-profile murder case that was surrounding the person the victim was named after, Khemka, a well-endowed businessperson in Bihar business circles. The unsurpassed killing by Khemka had created a stir in Patna, and this posed a severe question regarding the security of businessmen in the area.
The police’s argument was that the accused shot first when the police were trying to arrest him, thus the subsequent response. Authorities added that a gun was found on the spot, and a continuing investigation is needed to find out the reason behind the murder and whether there is another person/group who planned it.
Gopal Khemka’s Murder Shocks Patna
Gopal Khemka was a renowned businessman and philanthropist. His abrupt and bloody death raised shock waves in society. He also, according to the early reports, was the target of the pre-planned attack either because of business rivalries or extortion threats.
His assassination was not only a front-page story but also compelled local governments to enhance the security of high-profile people, especially those who are in business.
Is Nitish Following the Yogi Model?
The killing in an encounter has once again redefined the question of policy application of police adopting force by state police and compared to the cases of the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and his model, wherein encounter killings are frequent police operation tools. Now the question is whether Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will also follow the same path.
Though some appreciate the model implemented by Yogi to reduce crime and criticize it for avoiding due process, the current developments in Bihar are indicative of a rise in toughness on crime under Nitish Kumar’s rule.
Encounter Sparks Debate
As most citizens and businesspeople applauded the police for their timely response, there were concerns regarding the type of interaction. Was this a self-defense or a silencing of deeper leads in the case?
Political activists and legal practitioners are demanding the release of open inquiry reports so that the principle of law administration can be realized, at least in a case this important.
Ongoing Investigation
According to the Bihar Police, more arrests are probable, and the encounter could have deterred additional robberies. Meanwhile, the corporate world and the family of Khemka demand justice and not revenge.
