MASTERMIND BEHIND THE MURDER MUST BE EXPOSED: PRASHANT KISHORE

MASTERMIND BEHIND THE MURDER MUST BE EXPOSED: PRASHANT KISHORE

25-JUNE-ENG 13

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA------------------------In Shahpur Bilauti, Bhojpur district, Bihar, the police... The case of Bharat Bhushan Tiwari, who was killed in an encounter, continues to escalate. As part of this development, Prashant Kishor, the architect of the 'Jan Suraaj' campaign, visited Shahpur today to meet the deceased's family. After offering condolences at Tiwari's home, Kishor attended a tribute meeting and a *Mahapanchayat* (grand assembly) in the village, where he raised serious questions regarding the role of the state government and the police administration in the entire incident.

Speaking to the media after meeting the family, Prashant Kishor stated clearly that this is not merely a local issue; rather, it reeks of a larger conspiracy. He emphasized that the aggrieved family does not seek the lure of compensation or jobs; they want nothing but justice. Kishor demanded that suspending low-level officials or station house officers (SHOs) would not suffice. True justice, he argued, would only be served if those who orchestrated the incident and ordered the killing—while sitting in Patna—are identified and face strict action.

Kishor further remarked that Bharat Bhushan Tiwari was not a criminal but a socially conscious citizen. He had been fighting for the rights of 80 families from Jawaniya village who had been displaced by Ganga river erosion and were struggling for basic amenities like electricity and water. The loss of a social activist's life in a police encounter casts a major shadow of doubt over the state's law and order situation.

During the visit, Prashant Kishor also launched a scathing attack on the statement made by Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary. He termed Chaudhary's defense of the police action as insensitive. Kishor asserted that policing is about protecting society, not firing bullets. When the protector turns into the predator, it becomes imperative for society to become vigilant and take to the streets in protest.

Prashant Kishor also expressed skepticism regarding the transparency of the judicial inquiry announced by the government, directly questioning what the scope of this investigation would actually be. Will the scope of this investigation encompass Home Department officials, the STF officers who issued orders from Patna, and the magistrates who signed the order to open fire? He stated unequivocally that this fight would continue until the true masterminds behind this killing are exposed and face legal action.

Prashant Kishor assured Bharat Bhushan Tiwari’s family that they are not alone. He affirmed that not only does the entire society stand with them, but the Jan Suraaj team will also support them through to the final stage of this struggle. This demand for justice has now evolved into a mass movement, and pressure on the state government is mounting.