IF HE COULD HAVE BEEN CAPTURED, WHY WAS SHOT DEAD-NEW STATEMENT REGISTERED

IF HE COULD HAVE BEEN CAPTURED, WHY WAS SHOT DEAD-NEW STATEMENT REGISTERED

14-JULY-ENG 16

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA-------------------------Three key witnesses recorded their statements on Monday before the judicial inquiry commission regarding the high-profile alleged police encounter case of Bharat Tiwari in Bhojpur. Bharat Tiwari's sister-in-law, Suman Devi, along with Satyanarayan Chaudhary and Mantu Kamkar—who claim to be eyewitnesses—presented their accounts of the incident to the commission. The family reiterated their demand for justice and strict action against the guilty police personnel.

The judicial inquiry into the high-profile alleged police encounter case of Bharat Tiwari in Bihar's Bhojpur district is progressing steadily. A significant milestone was reached on Monday when three crucial witnesses recorded their statements before the judicial inquiry commission. These included Bharat Tiwari's sister-in-law, Suman Devi, and Satyanarayan Chaudhary and Mantu Kamkar, both of whom claim to have witnessed the incident. All three shared their respective information regarding the event with the commission's chairman, retired Judge Vinod Kumar Sinha.

Following the hearing held at the judicial inquiry office in Ara, the three witnesses also spoke to the media. Suman Devi stated that the commission questioned her in detail about the sequence of events, the police officers present at the time, and other aspects. She mentioned that the questioning lasted for about an hour and a half, during which she presented all the facts known to her before the commission.

Suman Devi claimed that she was present at the scene when the incident occurred. She told the commission that she witnessed Bharat Tiwari being shot. She stated that family members attempted to meet and speak with Bharat during the incident but were denied permission to do so. She further alleged that after being injured, Bharat was transported in a police vehicle rather than an ambulance. She conveyed these details to the commission and described the entire sequence of events.

Suman Devi added that the commission's chairman has assured her that justice will be served upon the conclusion of the hearings. Expressing faith in the judicial inquiry process, she demanded strict action against any police personnel or other individuals found guilty during the investigation. She stated that her family has been consistently seeking justice and expressed hope that the commission would conduct an impartial probe.

Speaking to the media, Suman Devi also alleged that the firing took place in the presence of police officers during the incident. She mentioned the names of certain administrative officials in her statement and said she had presented the facts to the commission exactly as she had witnessed and believed them to be. She added that the family questions why shots were fired when Bharat could have been apprehended.

Another witness, Satyanarayan Chaudhary, also recorded his statement before the commission. He mentioned that the commission questioned him in detail regarding the incident. He stated that he recounted exactly what he had witnessed at the time of the event and maintained that he had presented the sequence of events to the commission based on his own knowledge.

Satyanarayan Chaudhary expressed confidence in the judicial inquiry. He added that since he was speaking the truth, he harbored no fear. He expressed hope that justice would be served once the investigation concluded, reiterating that he had placed only the facts known to him before the commission. On Monday, Mantu Kamkar also recorded his statement, presenting his version of the incident to the judicial inquiry commission. After recording the statements of all three witnesses, the commission proceeded with the investigation process.

The judicial inquiry commission investigating the alleged encounter of Bharat Tiwari is continuously recording statements from family members, eyewitnesses, and other relevant individuals. Previously, the statements of Bharat Tiwari's parents were recorded on Saturday. With the statements of three additional witnesses recorded on Monday, a total of five people have testified so far.

The statement of Bharat Tiwari's brother, Chandan Tiwari, is yet to be recorded on behalf of the family. It is expected that following his statement, the commission will question other parties involved in the case and examine all the facts. The Commission is recording the statements of all witnesses. Family members and eyewitnesses are presenting their respective claims before the Commission. The Commission will finalize its investigation based on these statements and the available facts, after which it will prepare a comprehensive report and submit it to the state government.

The report will be submitted to the state government upon completion of the investigation.

For now, the testimony given by three key witnesses on Monday is considered significant to the investigation. All eyes are now on whom the judicial inquiry commission summons next to record statements and what conclusions it draws in its final report after hearing all parties.