Khemka case: Suspected arms supplier killed in police encounter

Patna: A criminal suspected of supplying the weapon used in the murder of industrialist Gopal Khemka was shot dead in a police encounter at Damaria Ghat in the Patna City area early on Tuesday, according to police officers. The deceased, Vikas alias Raja (30), a resident of Malsalami area, had several criminal cases pending against him.

The encounter occurred around 3.30am when police, acting on specific intelligence, attempted to arrest Vikas. As the officers approached, the suspect, who had been evading arrest, opened fire. The police returned fire in self-defence, resulting in his death. A pistol and ammunition were recovered from the spot.

Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Kartikeya K Sharma, SP Diksha and SDPO (Patna City II) Gaurav Kumar visited the site shortly after the incident. The body was sent to Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH), Patna, for a post-mortem examination.

The SSP said the police team, acting on a tip-off, had reached Damaria Ghat in the Malsalami police station area around 2.25am. "Upon seeing the police, he attempted to flee while firing at them. The police returned fire, resulting in his death. No police personnel sustained injuries in this encounter," Sharma said.

Police recovered a pistol, a spent cartridge and an unfired bullet from the location. Police suspect Vikas had supplied the firearm used in Khemka's killing.

On Monday, police arrested Umesh Rai, the alleged shooter in the Khemka case, and detained another suspect during a joint operation by the Special Task Force (STF) and Patna police. Both were picked up from the Malsalami area.

Malsalami SHO Rajkumar Singh told TOI on Tuesday that evidence indicated Vikas had supplied arms to Umesh in connection with Khemka's murder. "When the police went to interrogate him, he opened fire at the police. In the exchange of gunfire, he sustained three bullet injuries and died," Singh said.

According to the SHO, Vikas was earlier involved in four murder cases, six to seven cases of loot and dacoity and several violations of the Arms Act.

Gopal Khemka was fatally shot outside his residence in the Gandhi Maidan area on July 4. His son had also been killed in Hajipur seven years earlier.