Is Jungle Raj Reigning? Political Outcry Following Gopal Khemka's Murder in Patna

New Delhi, July 5 (NationPress) With the Assembly elections looming in just a few months, the ruthless killing of Gopal Khemka, a well-known businessman and proprietor of Magadh Hospital, has ignited a political uproar in Bihar.

The incident took place late Friday night near his home in the affluent Gandhi Maidan area of Patna, leading Opposition figures to criticize the current administration's law and order situation.

Tejashwi Yadav, a leader of the RJD, condemned the government, accusing it of manipulating media narratives to obscure the worsening security conditions.

"Just a short distance from a police station in Patna, a prominent businessman was shot dead! Every month, countless businesspeople are murdered in Bihar, yet we can't label it a Jungle Raj? This is what they refer to as media management and perception control," he posted on his X account.

Reports indicate that Khemka was shot by unidentified assailants on a motorcycle around 11:40 P.M. as he exited his vehicle near the Panache Hotel.

Pappu Yadav, an Independent MP from Purnia, expressed support for the Opposition and called for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the murder.

"We all stand with the Opposition. Following directives from the Congress Party, we will present the issue of attacks on the poor to the Election Commission on the 9th of this month. We demand a CBI investigation into Gopal Khemka's murder," he told IANS.

RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari described the event as a testament to the criminal rule in Bihar.

He stated to IANS, "This is a tragic event. A renowned businessman, Mr. Gopal Khemka, was murdered in Patna last night near his home. Clearly, criminal rule has taken hold. The police arrived two hours later. To those who speak of Jungle Raj, I ask, what should we call this? The 'goon rule' or 'criminal governance'?"

"In Bihar, the government has provided protection to criminals. Their confidence has surged, while the police are disheartened."

Neeraj Kumar, a spokesperson for JD(U), while recognizing the seriousness of the incident, defended the state government.

"The brutal murder of Gopal Khemka, a prominent industrialist, near Gandhi Maidan in Patna is profoundly disturbing. Regardless of who the victim is, murder poses a challenge to the rule of law. The DGP of Bihar has taken this matter seriously, forming a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by the City SP Central to explore every angle of the case."

Meanwhile, Gopal Khemka’s family has accused the police of extreme negligence. His brother, Shankar Khemka, noted: "Officers arrived nearly three hours after the shooting, around 2:30 A.M. Gopal was returning home when the assailants opened fire, reminiscent of the attack on his son in 2018."