Patna, June 25: The judicial inquiry into the controversial police encounter of Bharat Bhushan Tiwari in Bihar's Bhojpur district gathered momentum on Thursday as a commission appointed by the state government visited Bilauti village to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The inquiry panel, headed by retired Patna High Court judge Justice Vinod Kumar Sinha, visited the village where the alleged encounter took place on June 17. The visit was marked by emotional scenes as Bharat Tiwari's mother, Asha Devi, strongly objected to the presence of Special Task Force (STF) personnel accompanying the commission.
Asha Devi alleged that STF officials were involved in her son's death and questioned their participation during the inquiry process. She urged the commission to ensure strict action against those responsible and reiterated the family's demand for an independent investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Addressing the commission, she said she wanted the harshest possible punishment for those found guilty of her son's killing and expressed confidence that the judiciary would deliver justice. According to her, the family's primary demand remains accountability and justice for Bharat Tiwari.
The family also maintained that only a neutral agency such as the CBI could uncover the full truth behind the incident. Asha Devi informed the commission that the FIR previously filed against members of Bharat Tiwari's family had been withdrawn.
During the visit, the commission interacted with the deceased's family members and collected details related to various aspects of the case. The inquiry team also inspected the site where the encounter occurred.
The judicial probe was ordered by the Bihar government amid increasing public scrutiny, political pressure, and calls for transparency in the case. The commission is expected to examine witness testimonies, police records, forensic findings, and other relevant evidence before submitting its report.
Bharat Bhushan Tiwari was killed during a police operation in Bilauti village under the Shahpur police station area on June 17. Police authorities have maintained that officers opened fire in self-defence during the operation.
However, the family disputes the police version, alleging that Bharat Tiwari had already surrendered and discarded his weapon before he was shot. The controversy intensified after a video purportedly related to the incident surfaced online. According to family members and supporters, the footage supports their claim that he had surrendered before the shooting, though investigators are continuing to verify the evidence.
A criminal case has already been registered against five police personnel, including the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) and the Station House Officer (SHO). Several officers have also faced administrative action as the investigation into the incident continues.
