CALLS FOR JUSTICE FOR BHARAT TIWARI

CALLS FOR JUSTICE FOR BHARAT TIWARI

24-JUNE-ENG 16

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA---------------------------Today marks a highly significant and sensitive day for Bilauti village in the Shahpur block of Bhojpur district. A grand *Mahapanchayat* (mass gathering) and tribute meeting have been organized by the community at the Baba Kundeshwar Nath Temple complex to demand justice regarding the alleged encounter killing of social activist Bharat Bhushan Tiwari.

The primary objective of this gathering is to pay tribute to Bharat Bhushan Tiwari and formulate a concrete strategy to secure justice for his family. Several political and social figures from local, state, and national levels are expected to attend the event. The organizers maintain that the struggle will continue until an impartial, high-level investigation into the matter is conducted. Today’s meeting will focus on deliberating the future course of the movement to ensure the guilty receive severe punishment.

Given the importance of the event, a massive turnout is anticipated in Shahpur. Reports indicate that large numbers of people are arriving not only from various districts of Bihar but also from the neighboring state of Uttar Pradesh. In light of this, the organizers have made extensive arrangements. Robust provisions for drinking water, seating, and security have been ensured at the venue, located near the NH-922 four-lane highway. A public outreach campaign has been underway in the area for several days, resulting in a visible sense of unity among the general public regarding this issue.

The Bharat Bhushan Tiwari encounter case has been in the headlines for quite some time. Six days after the incident, the police finally registered an FIR. Filed under Case No. 178/26, the FIR invokes Section 103 (1) (5) of the BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita) and serious provisions of the Arms Act. Jagdishpur SDPO Rajesh Sharma, suspended Shahpur Station House Officer (SHO) Inspector Rajesh Malakar, and other police personnel have been named as accused in the case. According to the FIR, Bharat Bhushan's mother has alleged that he was taken away under the pretext of discussing the grievances of displaced persons affected by the Jawainiya erosion and was then shot in a premeditated manner. It is further alleged that he was shot five times on the direct orders of the Jagdishpur SDPO. The Bhojpur police have currently entrusted the investigation of this serious incident to Inspector Sanjeev Kumar.

The sequence of events began on the evening of June 16, when a video of Bharat Bhushan went viral on social media, prompting the Shahpur police to visit his home. According to the police report from that time, Bharat had brandished a pistol; the police, deeming him mentally unstable, had returned without taking further action. However, the situation took a tragic turn on the morning of June 17. The police claim that Bharat opened fire, and in the ensuing retaliatory action, he was shot and subsequently died while undergoing treatment at the hospital. However, a video of the alleged encounter went viral, showing Bharat surrendering to the police.