MAHAPANCHAYAT AT BILAUTI VILLAGE, MOTHER DEMANDS ‘THE PERSON WHO KILLED HER SON SHOULD BE HANGED’

MAHAPANCHAYAT AT BILAUTI VILLAGE, MOTHER DEMANDS ‘THE PERSON WHO KILLED HER SON SHOULD BE HANGED’

24-JUNE-ENG 9

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA------------------------------The issue surrounding the death of Bharat Bhushan Tiwari in a so-called encounter has intensified. Amidst this, a *Mahapanchayat* (grand public gathering) has been convened today in Tiwari's village, Bilauti. Thousands of people and representatives from various organizations across several states, including Bihar, are expected to participate and discuss legal strategies. Organizers claim that the gathering will draw thousands from states such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. There is also speculation that Prashant Kishor might attend the event.

Meanwhile, the mother of Bharat Tiwari (28)—who was killed by gunfire from a joint team of the police and the Special Task Force (STF) in Bihar's Bhojpur district—has demanded the death penalty for the accused. She also expressed confidence that the entire state stands with her in this quest for justice.

"The person who killed my son should be hanged": Bharat Tiwari's mother stated, "The one who killed my son deserves to be hanged. I want justice. The government has the power; it should help us secure justice. The accused will soon realize who Bharat Tiwari was. All of Bihar is like a son to me, and the entire state will ensure justice for my son."

Both the ruling coalition and the opposition have criticized the police action regarding the Bharat Tiwari encounter. JD(U) MP Kaushalendra Kumar remarked that staging an encounter is improper; when an individual surrenders to the police, they are typically taken into custody first, so Bharat Tiwari should not have been killed in an encounter.

Conversely, while several NDA leaders are raising questions about the Bilauti encounter, Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has defended the police action and given a clean chit to the Bhojpur police. He asserted that Bharat Tiwari was not a revolutionary and claimed that he is being supported by individuals with a casteist mindset. "If a Dalit is killed in an encounter, people say a Naxalite was killed; if a Muslim is killed, they say a terrorist was killed. Yet, the very same people are now raising questions about the encounter of Bharat Tiwari. However, the biggest question remains: where exactly did Bharat Tiwari get the illegal pistol from?" – Jitan Ram Manjhi, Union Minister.

On June 14–15, 2026, a video went viral showing a young man from Bilauti village (under the Shahpur police station in Bhojpur district) challenging the police and administration while holding a pistol. Following this, on June 17, the Shahpur police arrived at the home of the youth, Bharat Bhushan Tiwari, in Bilauti village.

According to the family, the Shahpur police took Bharat Tiwari away under the pretext of showing him issues in a flood-affected area. Subsequently, the police asked him to surrender; Bharat Tiwari threw down the pistol, but the police then shot him in an encounter. He was referred to Patna in critical condition, where he passed away.

Meanwhile, the Bihar government has intensified the investigation into the Bharat Tiwari encounter case and has ordered a judicial inquiry. According to the Bhojpur SP, an FIR has been registered against five police personnel—including the SDPO and the Shahpur SHO—based on a complaint filed by Bharat Tiwari's mother.

Bharat Tiwari's mother alleges that her son had surrendered by throwing away his weapon during a Facebook Live session, yet the police apprehended him and opened fire. In her complaint, she stated that her son was shot five times. She has also alleged that the firing was carried out on the orders of the Jagdishpur SDPO. The family has demanded an impartial investigation into the entire matter and action against the guilty police personnel.