Three back-to-back murders in Patna in a fortnight, Oppn slams Nitish govt over law and order
The latest in the string of murders was reported on Saturday, when BJP leader Surendra Kewat was shot dead by bike-borne assailants near his farm in Sheikhpura village along the Bihta–Sarmera State Highway, reported Live Hindustan.
Earlier the same day, Vikram Jha, a grocery shop owner originally from Darbhanga, was fatally shot outside his shop in Patna's Ram Krishna Nagar area.
These killings come close on the heels of the murder of Gopal Khemka, a businessman and BJP functionary who was shot dead outside his residence in Gandhi Maidan on the night of July 4, considered one of the most secured localities in the city.
Opposition hits out at Bihar government
Former deputy chief minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday lashed out at the ruling NDA alliance, accusing it of losing control over the law and order situation.
'And now, a BJP leader shot dead in Patna! What to say, and to whom? Is there anyone in the NDA government willing to listen to the truth or admit their mistakes?' Yadav posted on X.
He further attacked Kumar, saying, 'Everyone knows about the CM's health, but what are the two useless BJP deputy chief ministers doing? No statement from the corrupt Bhunja-DK party?'
Congress leader Salman Khurshid on Saturday raised concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation in Bihar, calling it a "matter of sorrow" and urging citizens to hold the government accountable.
"Can anyone say anything about law and order? This is a matter of sorrow... Murders are happening, and looting is occurring. No one can be satisfied by seeing this. This is a matter of concern for everyone... It is the responsibility of those outside the government to inform the government that what is happening under them is not right," Khurshid told news agency ANI.
Union minister and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leader Chirag Paswan also questioned the administration over the recent string of murders. In a post on 'X', he said, 'How many more murders will Biharis have to face? It is beyond comprehension what the responsibility of the Bihar Police is.'
BJP responds, says 'no criminal will be spared'
Responding to the criticism, BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain defended the state government, saying, 'The murder in Bihar is unfortunate. Those responsible for this will not be spared.'
'The police is investigating the matter. However, the language in which Tejashwi Yadav is speaking about Bihar's law and order is not right. During their government, criminals used to roam around freely but today, no criminal is spared.' he said targeting the RJD.
Police probe underway in latest killings
According to officials cited by the Hindi daily, 52-year-old Surendra Kewat was returning from his farmland after switching off a water pump when two men on a motorcycle opened fire. He was rushed to AIIMS Patna but succumbed to injuries during treatment.
Earlier the same day, 40-year-old Vikram Jha was shot outside his grocery shop by an unidentified man who arrived on a motorcycle and fled after firing.
Speaking to reporters, SP Patna East Parichay Kumar said: 'Vikram Jha, a resident under PS Ram Krishna Nagar limits, was shot at some time ago. When he was being taken to the hospital, he died… On analysing the CCTV footage, we found that the deceased owned a grocery store, and a person came on a motorbike and shot him. There seems to be no evidence of robbery in the store.'
The officer added that there were no prior complaints or known threats, and forensic teams were examining the scene to determine a motive.
The killing spree began earlier this month with the daylight murder of Gopal Khemka, a prominent businessman and BJP functionary, outside his residence in Patna's Gandhi Maidan area. Khemka had reportedly asked for police protection before the attack.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
30 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
SIT to investigate beef-smuggling in Maharashtra
MUMBAI: While terming the continuing beef-smuggling in the state despite the ban 'a serious matter', minister of state for home Pankaj Bhoyar on Monday announced that the Mahayuti government would form a special investigation team (SIT) to probe it. Pankaj Bhoyar Shrikant Bhartiya, BJP member in the legislative council, on Monday raised the issue of beef smuggling in Maharashtra and expressed concern, as the state has passed a law which prohibits slaughter, sale and possession, and transportation of beef. Bhartiya pointed out an incident at Kusgaon, Lonavala, in March 2025, in which 57,000 kg of beef was seized from two containers, and referred to reports on the continuous smuggling of 20 to 25 tonnes of beef from Dharashiv district in Marathwada to parts of Telangana. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab also expressed concern over the matter and said that it demonstrated the failure of the home department to effectively execute the beef ban. Parab alleged that 57,000 kg of beef seized in Lonavala and reports of beef transportation from Dharashiv indicated that a huge nexus was involved. He also supported the demand for an SIT probe to go to the root of the beef-smuggling racket. While replying to Bhartiya and Parab, Bhoyar admitted that beef smuggling was a serious matter, adding that in 2025, 76 cases were filed in Dharashiv district alone. 'Following information, the police on March 26 this year seized 57,000 kg of red meat from two containers at Kusgaon on the Pune-Mumbai expressway,' he said. 'Documents showed that it was from Asian Food Meem Agro and bore the label 'Indian Halal frozen boneless buffalo offals'. Twenty samples were taken and sent to a forensic laboratory in Pune. Contrary to what the documents claimed, the laboratory said it was beef. So a case was registered with the Pune rural police.' According to home department data from 2022 up to June 2025, a total of 2,849 cases were registered under the beef ban act, and 4,678 accused persons were arrested with 1,724 tonnes of beef seized during this period. Pointing to this data, Bhoyar announced the SIT probe.
Hindustan Times
35 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Maratha outfits vow to get back for attack on Sambhaji Brigade founder
MUMBAI: The attack on Sambhaji Brigade's founding member Pravin Gaikwad on Sunday by BJP office-bearer Deepak Kate and other people affiliated to the Shivdharma Foundation in Akkalkot, Solapur, has evoked strong reactions from Maratha outfits. Gaikwad was assaulted for making allegedly derogatory remarks about Swami Samarth Maharaj and also for not changing the name of his outfit to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Brigade. Pune,India - June 21.2017:Picture By Pravin Gaikwad in Book Launch in Balgandharva Auditorium in Pune, India, on Wednesday, June 21.2017. (Pic By Rahul Raut ) While opposition parties, which demanded strong action against the attackers, raised the issue in the state legislature on Monday, the Maratha outfits held a joint meeting in Pune. Shrikant Shirole, a Maratha leader, said that a committee would be formed to decide the further course of action. Virendra Pawar, coordinator of the Sakal Maratha Samaj, said this was an attack on all Maratha organisations and Marathas, 'carried out with the intention of diverting attention from key issues'. Maratha Seva Sangh president Purushottam Khedekar, on his part, lambasted the RSS. 'The RSS tries to corrupt society's brains, and the attack on Gaikwad was part of the design,' he said. 'We will have to retaliate unitedly.' Gaikwad was pulled out of his car and manhandled by Deepak Kate when he reached Akkalkot to attend a function. Kate is the general secretary of the Bharatiya Yuva Janata Morcha. Gaikwad said that people with progressive thoughts were living under threat since 2014. 'Activists with a secular ideology are insecure today, but we follow the ideology aligned with the Constitution,' he said. 'This was a planned attack, and the state government is responsible for it. The prime accused in my case is facing 10 serious cases, and even yesterday's attack was similar to an attempt to murder. Despite this, he is being shielded by the state government. The police are being directed to go soft on him.' Former Maharashtra BJP chief and revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule claimed that the BJP would not 'stoop to this level'. 'Deepak Kate is our office-bearer but what he did is not justifiable, and action should be taken against him,' he said after a video of Kate with him went viral on social media on Monday. Responding to the Opposition after the issue was raised in the state assembly, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said the police had arrested the accused though Gaikwad was not willing to make a formal complaint. 'Strict action will be taken against the accused under the applicable laws,' he said. The attack on Gaikwad, a prominent Maratha leader, is also seen as an attempt to consolidate non-Marathas before the upcoming local body polls. 'Sambhaji Brigade shot to fame in 2004 after it vandalised the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute in Pune, where American scholar James Laine researched his book on Shivaji,' said an opposition leader. 'The vandals claimed the book had objectionable references to Shivaji Maharaj. A certain community harboured anger against Sambhaji Brigade after that attack. Sunday's attack, planned to pit the two communities against each other, could be part of the political consolidation plan.'
Time of India
41 minutes ago
- Time of India
NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil dubs reports of switching sides as baseless
Maharashtra NCP (SP) president Jayant Patil has dismissed speculation about quitting his post and possible move to the BJP , saying he had neither met any leader of the saffron outfit nor anyone from the ruling coalition party approached him. The former state minister termed as baseless media reports about his switch over. Reports in a section of media have also claimed Patil has resigned as the state NCP (SP) president and that his party colleague and MLC Shashikant Shinde will succeed him. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The Nationalist Congress Party (SP), led by former Union minister Sharad Pawar , has convened its general body meeting on Tuesday. "I have not contacted any leader in the BJP, nor has anyone asked me to join (BJP). I am the state president of a party and I am surprised by such reports," the NCP (SP) leader told reporters at the Vidhan Bhavan premises here on Monday. Live Events Downplaying speculation around his political moves, Patil said, "Even if someone meets a leader from another party, it leads to all kinds of speculation. I have denied such reports multiple times, but they keep resurfacing. How many times do I have to deny them? These stories are reported repeatedly and never turn out to be true." During a discussion in the legislative assembly, the eight-time MLA from Islampur in Sangli district said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stressed on widespread implementation of direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme. This (DBT) is better than some of the state government's schemes where utensils are given to needy families. In such cases, many families receive substandard quality material, the opposition legislator said in the House. Asked by reporters about his praise of the DBT scheme , a flagship initiative of the Modi government, the NCP (SP) leader asserted liking or disliking certain schemes of a government did not mean one was switching sides. "It is a different matter if I like some of their schemes and do not like others. But the BJP has never communicated with me about any such offer (of switch over). If I meet Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis (a BJP leader) for official work, that does not mean I am joining the party," he asserted. Asked if he would take action against media outlets publishing such reports, Patil remarked, "The same media houses also publish positive news about me. I do not want to create unnecessary bitterness with them. If the state president of a party with 10 MLAs is getting so much publicity, I should probably be thankful to them." Speaking at the NCP's 26th foundation day event in Pune on June 10, Patil hinted at stepping down from his post in the presence of party chief Sharad Pawar to make way for a younger face. Patil, a staunch loyalist of Sharad Pawar, has been with him since the formation of the NCP in 1999. He sided with the Pawar senior after deputy CM Ajit Pawar rebelled in 2023 and joined the BJP-Shiv Sena ruling coalition.
