A primary suspect in the killing of Bihar businessman Gopal Khemka was shot dead in an encounter with police during the early hours of Tuesday.
A PTI report states that the shootout occurred in the Damaria Ghat region of Patna. The police stated that the suspect, Vikas also known as Raja, was 29 years old and was sought in multiple other criminal cases too.
A police squad, investigating Khemka’s murder, followed a lead and arrived at Damaria Ghat at approximately 2:25 am looking for Vikas. Upon seeing the police, the suspect attempted to flee and fired shots, resulting in the suspect’s death after the police responded, the report quoted an official as stating.
ALSO READ: 5 Family Members Brutally Murdered in Bihar over Suspicion of Witchcraft
The official stated that a pistol, one spent cartridge, and one live cartridge were found at the scene. “LHe stated that Vikas is believed to have supplied the weapon utilized in Khemka’s murder.
The corpse has been dispatched to Nalanda Medical College, Patna, for an autopsy.
12 Arrested In The Case So Far
The encounter occurs one day after Bihar police arrested 12 individuals linked to the Khemka murder case, who was killed on July 4 outside his home in Patna’s Gandhi Maidan area.
ALSO READ: ‘Forced me to consume beef’: Indore woman accuses Husband of ‘Love Jihad’
On Monday, the Patna police detained two individuals, including the person who fired the shot, the report stated, referencing a senior police official. Umesh Rao, the gunman, was apprehended, while another individual believed to have hired the hitman was taken into custody. The inquiry is presently in progress.
Following Khemka’s murder on July 4, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar convened a meeting to assess the law and order conditions in the state.