Bihar News: Key Accused in Gopal Khemka Murder Case Shot Dead in Encounter With STF in Patna

A major breakthrough has emerged in the Gopal Khemka murder investigation, as one of the main accused, Vikas alias Raja, was killed in a late-night encounter with the Special Task Force (STF) in Patna’s Mal Salami area. Raja, who was reportedly involved in the illegal arms trade, had supplied the weapon used in the killing of Khemka. Acting on the confession of arrested shooter Umesh Yadav, police traced Raja’s location to an abandoned brick kiln near the Ganga river.When the STF team attempted to apprehend him, Raja opened fire, prompting retaliatory action in which he was shot dead. The encounter site was isolated and largely abandoned, with the kiln shut for years. Police believe Raja had been hiding there for several days with external support and are now investigating who may have been helping him evade capture.The SIT and STF are jointly probing the broader conspiracy behind Khemka’s murder. While Raja's death marks a key development, police are still identifying others involved in the planning and execution. The area is now sealed, and forensic teams are gathering evidence as officials analyze call records and CCTV footage to uncover the full chain of criminal links.