Daijiworld Media Network – Patna
Patna, Jul 13: In yet another chilling incident that has jolted Bihar’s capital, BJP leader Surendra Kewat was shot dead by two bike-borne assailants in Sheikpura district on Saturday. This comes barely a week after prominent businessman Gopal Khemka was gunned down outside his home in Patna, deepening public concern over law and order in the poll-bound state.
The 52-year-old Kewat, who earlier served as a BJP Kisan Morcha leader, was working in his fields when two unidentified men arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire. He sustained four bullet injuries and was rushed to AIIMS Patna but succumbed during treatment.
Sheikpura police and forensic teams reached the scene and launched a probe. “We have recorded statements of his family members. Raids are being conducted to identify and apprehend the culprits,” said police officer Kanhaiya Singh.
Kewat's murder has triggered political turmoil, with leaders across parties descending on AIIMS. MLA Gopal Ravidas and former minister Shyam Rajak met the bereaved family and urged hospital officials to complete formalities swiftly.
The incident has added fresh ammunition to the Opposition’s criticism of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s NDA government. “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?” wrote RJD leader and former Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav on social media platform X.
Taking a sharp dig at the administration, Yadav questioned the effectiveness of Bihar’s two BJP deputy chief ministers, saying, “Everyone knows about the CM's health, but what are the two useless BJP deputy chief ministers doing?”
Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also slammed the state government. Referring to the recent killings, he said Bihar was “living in the shadow of loot, bullets, and murder,” accusing the BJP-JDU government of turning the state into the “crime capital of India.”
“This is not just an election to change the government, but to save Bihar,” Gandhi posted, calling for a new Bihar “where progress, not fear, resides.”
Hitting back, Union Minister and former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi alleged the RJD was shielding criminals to malign the NDA government. “Criminals are no longer entertained in the Chief Minister’s residence. They are gunned down. Those raising questions on law and order should understand this,” Manjhi said.
The back-to-back high-profile murders have intensified pressure on the Nitish Kumar-led government just months ahead of Assembly polls, with growing public unrest and political slugfests dominating Bihar’s volatile pre-election landscape.