Even Kumar’s ally, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Chirag Paswan, has condemned the deteriorating situation, intensifying pressure on the ruling coalition ahead of upcoming elections.
Union Minister and LJP (Ram Vilas) party chief Chirag Paswan criticised Bihar Chief Minister Kumar for the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.
Paswan took to X (formerly Twitter) to mention that the crime rate in the state is at its peak. “Crime in the state is at its peak, and the fact that such an incident was carried out by criminals in the home district of the honourable Chief Minister clearly indicates that the morale of criminals is at its highest,” he wrote on X on July 7.
His remarks followed the killing of 16-year-old Himanshu Paswan and 20-year-old Anu Kumar in Nalanda’s Bihar Sharif, which is the CM’s home district. Paswan called the incident “extremely unfortunate and condemnable.”
“This heinous event not only shakes humanity but also shows that law and order in Bihar have completely collapsed,” Paswan added.
कल नालंदा के बिहारशरीफ में अपराधियों द्वारा 16 वर्षीय हिमांशु पासवान एवं 20 वर्षीय अनु कुमार की गोली मारकर निर्मम हत्या कर दी गई। ये घटना बेहद दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण और निंदनीय है। यह जघन्य घटना न केवल मानवता को झकझोरती है, बल्कि यह भी दर्शाती है कि बिहार में कानून-व्यवस्था पूरी तरह…
— युवा बिहारी चिराग पासवान (@iChiragPaswan) July 7, 2025
Murder of Gopal Khemka sparks uproar
The murder of businessman Gopal Khemka, who was reportedly also linked with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has also sparked outrage in the state.
Khemka was shot dead outside his Patna residence on July 4, which is located near a police station and government residences, as per News18.
On Tuesday, July 8, the accused in the case—Vikas, alias Raj—was shot dead by police in an encounter. He was allegedly involved in illegal arms trading and opened fire on officers during a raid, leading to retaliatory firing, as per PTI.
Read more: Bihar Elections: Nitish Kumar courts women support with 35% govt job reservation promise
Police had earlier arrested Umesh Rai, the alleged shooter, and detained another suspect believed to have hired the contract killer, as per PTI.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had said that the BJP and CM Kumar have turned Bihar into “India’s crime capital.”
“The brazen murder of businessman Gopal Khemka in Patna has once again proven – the BJP and Nitish Kumar together have turned Bihar into “India’s crime capital.” Today, Bihar lives in the shadow of loot, gunfire, and murder. Crime has become the ‘new normal’ here – and the government is utterly ineffective,” Gandhi wrote on X on July 6.
पटना में व्यवसायी गोपाल खेमका की सरेआम गोली मारकर हत्या ने एक बार फिर साबित कर दिया है – भाजपा और नीतीश कुमार ने मिलकर बिहार को “भारत की क्राइम कैपिटल” बना दिया है।
आज बिहार लूट, गोली और हत्या के साए में जी रहा है। अपराध यहां ‘नया नॉर्मल’ बन चुका है – और सरकार पूरी तरह नाकाम।…— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 6, 2025
Spike in murders fuels ‘jungle raj’ allegations
PTI reported on July 7 that nine individuals across Purnea, Nalanda, Muzaffarpur and Patna have been killed in a span of 24 hours, intensifying public concerns.
The Opposition has seized on the recent violence to call out Nitish Kumar and turn the tables on the “jungle raj” narrative.
“In Purnea, 5 members of the same family were burned alive and killed. Due to DK Tax, anarchy is at its peak in Bihar, DGP/CS helpless, law and order collapsed,” Tejashwi Yadav wrote on X on July 7.
“Day before yesterday in Siwan, 3 people were killed in a massacre. In recent days, 3 died in a massacre in Buxar. In Bhojpur, 3 died in a massacre. Criminals alert, Chief Minister unconscious. Corrupt Bhooja Party thriving, police defeated,” he added.
पूर्णिया में एक ही परिवार के 5 लोगों को जिंदा जलाकर मार दिया।
DK Tax के कारण बिहार में अराजकता चरम पर, DGP/CS बेबस, कानून व्यवस्था ध्वस्तपरसों सिवान में 3 लोगों की नरसंहार में मौत।
विगत दिनों बक्सर में नरसंहार में 3 की मौत।
भोजपुर में नरसंहार में 3 की मौत।अपराधी सतर्क,…
— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) July 7, 2025
Murders on the rise in Bihar
As per PTI, five members of a family were killed and their bodies burnt by villagers over suspicions of witchcraft, police said.
In Nalanda, a 22-year-old woman and another person were shot dead after a dispute between two families escalated.
In Muzaffarpur, a government engineer was stabbed to death, while a businessman was shot dead in Patna’s Khagaul area.
Rahul Gandhi to lead Bihar bandh
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is set to visit Patna on Wednesday (July 9) to support the Opposition’s Bihar bandh over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Read more: Bihar voter list row: SC to hear pleas against EC’s special intensive revision of electoral roll on July 10
He is also expected to meet Khemka’s family during his visit, as per Hindustan Times.
RJD’s Yadav has also demanded that the SIR should be put on hold until the elections, calling the exercise a means of voter suppression targeting marginalised communities.
As the Bihar state assembly elections approach later this year, the growing crime wave and political tensions appear to be increasing the concern for the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the state.
