PANKAJ MISHRA TAKES CHARGE AS SDPO

PANKAJ MISHRA TAKES CHARGE AS SDPO

24-JUNE-ENG 32

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA--------------------------The government has taken significant action regarding the high-profile Bilauti encounter case. Jagdishpur SDPO Rajesh Kumar Sharma, who was named as an accused in the murder case involving the encounter of Bharat Tiwari, has been removed from his post and recalled to headquarters. Pankaj Kumar Mishra has been entrusted with the responsibility of Jagdishpur SDPO in his place.

Acting on instructions from Police Headquarters, the new DSP has been deputed to Jagdishpur until further orders. Pankaj Mishra was previously serving in the State Prohibition and Narcotics Control Bureau. Prior to that, he worked as the SDPO of Danapur (Patna) and Birpur (Supaul).

It is worth noting that allegations had been leveled against Jagdishpur SDPO Rajesh Sharma ever since the encounter of Bilauti resident Bharat Bhushan Tiwari on June 17. In this connection, the deceased's mother, Shobha Devi, had submitted a formal complaint to the Superintendent of Police, accusing SDPO Rajesh Sharma of murder. On June 23, following government orders, an FIR for murder was registered against Jagdishpur SDPO Rajesh Sharma, the then Station House Officer (SHO) of Shahpur—Rajesh Malakar—and other police personnel.

The uproar surrounding the Bharat Bhushan Tiwari encounter case shows no signs of subsiding. Although the government has registered a murder FIR against those involved in the encounter—including Jagdishpur SDPO Rajesh Sharma, the then Shahpur SHO Rajesh Malakar, and other police personnel—the public remains unsatisfied with this level of action. People are asking when action will be taken against the "big fish" involved in the case, noting that orders for the encounter had come from senior officials. An STF team from Patna had arrived in Bilauti; the public demands to know on whose orders the STF personnel opened fire and insists that action be taken against those senior officials (the "big fish") as well. “The public wants to know: an FIR has been registered, but which sections of the law have been invoked?

The police registered an FIR regarding the high-profile Bharat Bhushan Tiwari encounter case on June 17 itself. According to sources, the FIR concerning the encounter was filed at the Shahpur police station, but its details have not yet been made public. People are keen to know exactly which legal sections have been cited in the FIR.

The police are on high alert following a *Mahapanchayat* (grand public meeting) held on Wednesday in Bilauti, Shahpur, regarding the Bharat Bhushan Tiwari encounter case. Senior police officials are camping near Bilauti. Additionally, police personnel from several stations across Bhojpur district—including Chandi, Dhobaha, Dhangai, Bihiya, and Jagdishpur—have been camping in Bilauti since the morning.

Prashant Kishor, the founder of the 'Jan Suraaj' movement, arrived in Bilauti village on Wednesday afternoon in connection with the high-profile Bharat Bhushan Tiwari encounter case. He first met with the family members of Bharat Bhushan Tiwari, who was killed in the encounter. Subsequently, speaking to the media, Prashant Kishor stated that Bharat Bhushan Tiwari’s death was not an encounter but a murder. He declared that he would personally fight to ensure action is taken against any officers found guilty in this killing.”