Bharat Bhushan Tiwari encounter: Bihar Chief Minister orders judicial inquiry, 3 cops suspended
PTC News Desk: The Bihar government has ordered a judicial inquiry into the police encounter in Bhojpur district in which Bharat Bhushan Tiwari was killed.
Tiwari, a resident of Bilauti village under the Shahpur police station area, was shot during a police operation on Wednesday. Announcing the decision on X, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said that an independent judicial probe would be conducted under the supervision of a retired High Court judge.
He stated that the inquiry would examine all aspects of the incident in a fair, transparent and impartial manner.
The announcement came shortly after Bihar Police suspended four officers, including a Station House Officer (SHO), in connection with the encounter. The action followed the circulation of a video that allegedly showed an armed suspect pointing a pistol at security personnel on Tuesday while police officers did not respond immediately.
According to police, officers opened fire on Wednesday in self-defence and to protect public safety after Tiwari allegedly fired at them during the operation in Bilauti village. He was seriously injured and later died while being taken to Patna Medical College and Hospital for treatment.
However, there are conflicting accounts about Tiwari. In its initial statement, the police described him as a person who was reportedly mentally unstable. In contrast, his family members and some local residents said he was a social activist who regularly raised public issues with government authorities.
The judicial inquiry is expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the encounter and address questions raised by the differing versions of events.
- With inputs from agencies
