IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BEETER IF HE KILLED A POLICEMAN: MANJHI

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BEETER IF HE KILLED A POLICEMAN: MANJHI

24-JUNE-ENG 13

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA----------------------------The case regarding the encounter of Bharat Bhushan Tiwari in Bhojpur, Bihar, has now reached the Supreme Court. Supreme Court lawyer Vishal Tiwari has filed a petition seeking a CBI inquiry into the matter. Meanwhile, Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has justified the action, asking whether it would have been acceptable if the deceased had killed a police officer.

A demand has also been made to constitute an independent expert committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge. Terming Bharat Bhushan Tiwari's death an alleged "fake encounter," Supreme Court lawyer Vishal Tiwari has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the apex court.

The petition demands that an FIR be registered against the police personnel involved in the encounter and that the case be investigated by the CBI. Additionally, a request has been made to form an independent expert committee, presided over by a retired Supreme Court judge, to uphold the rule of law. The petitioner alleges that Bharat Bhushan Tiwari's death is a case of homicide and necessitates an impartial investigation.

On the other hand, Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has fully justified the Bharat Bhushan Tiwari encounter, stating that questioning it is wrong. The Union Minister asked where the individual obtained a weapon if he was mentally ill.

"Would it have been right if two policemen had been killed there? Is it fine if police personnel die, but wrong if the police carry out an encounter? If someone points a pistol at the police, the police will inevitably retaliate with an encounter, and there is nothing wrong with that." – Jitan Ram Manjhi, Union Minister.

Meanwhile, BJP MLC and Bhojpuri cinema star Pawan Singh has expressed condolences over the incident and demanded an impartial inquiry. He stated that the late Bharat Bhushan Tiwari—a resident of Belauti village, Bhojpur—simply wanted public representatives and administrative officials to resolve the people's grievances and ensure that poor, marginalized, and flood-affected families were not deprived of their rights. Bharat was a socially conscious and sensitive individual who fought for the community.

"The news of his death today has shaken the entire society. Many questions are being raised regarding this incident. If the information circulated through various channels and the circumstances shown in the videos are accurate, then it is essential to conduct an impartial, transparent, and fair investigation into the entire sequence of events so that the truth can be revealed to the public." – Pawan Singh, BJP MLC.

On June 15, a video from Bihar's Bhojpur district went viral on social media, showing Bharat Bhushan Tiwari challenging the police administration while holding a pistol. When the Station House Officer (SHO) of Shahpur arrived in Bilauti village on June 17 for an inquiry, Tiwari was still holding the pistol and appeared angry over the failures of the government and the administration.

During this time, a lengthy exchange took place between SHO Rajesh Malakar and Bharat Bhushan Tiwari. On June 18, police and STF teams surrounded Tiwari's house. Meanwhile, Tiwari was broadcasting live on Facebook; the footage showed him discarding the pistol and surrendering.

According to locals, he was shot after surrendering and was rushed to the hospital, but he passed away while undergoing treatment in Patna. On June 19, villagers created a commotion by placing his body on the National Highway (NH). There was a confrontation between the public and the police, and the police had to use mild force. Since then, questions have been raised about the encounter, and political leaders continue to visit Bilauti village.