Key suspect in Gopal Khemka murder case shot dead in police encounter

Vikas alias Raja, a key suspect in the murder of Patna-based businessman Gopal Khemka, was killed in an encounter with Bihar Police in the wee hours of Tuesday.

 

According to officials, Vikas was wanted in several criminal cases.

 

The encounter took place in Damaria Ghat around 2.25 am when a police team, acting on a tip-off, reached the spot to arrest him.

 

"On spotting the police personnel, he tried to escape and also opened fire. The officers retaliated, and he was killed," an officer was quoted as saying by PTI news agency.

 

No police personnel have been injured in the gunfight.

 

A pistol, a spent and a live cartridge were recovered from the spot. Vikas was suspected to have provided the weapon that was used in the murder of Khemka who was shot dead outside his residence on Friday night.

 

The police made a breakthrough in the case on Monday when they arrested the alleged gunman, identified as Umesh Yadav.

 

Another person, who is suspected of hiring the contract killer, has also been detained.

 

"The contract killer was arrested from Patna. The investigation is in progress. We will share more details in due course," said an officer.

 

Khemka was returning home in his car when the bike-borne assailant opened fire at him in the Gandhi Maidan locality. The incident came seven years after his son was gunned down by miscreants in Hajipur.

 

The murder of Khemka has sparked off a political storm in Bihar—which goes to polls later this year—with the opposition parties alleging that law and order has collapsed in the state.

India