REWARD FOR THE DSP ACCUSED IN FAKE ENCOUNTER: ROHINI ACHARYA

REWARD FOR THE DSP ACCUSED IN FAKE ENCOUNTER: ROHINI ACHARYA

5-JULY-ENG 25

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA------------------------The case regarding the alleged fake encounter of Bharat Bhushan Tiwari in Bilauti village, Bhojpur, has taken center stage in Bihar politics. This incident has not only sparked local outrage but has also raised serious questions about the state's law and order situation and administrative functioning. A stir has recently erupted in political circles following the appointment of Rajesh Sharma—a police officer named as an accused in this case—as a DSP in the Prohibition Department.

Rohini Acharya, daughter of RJD supremo Lalu Yadav, has launched a scathing attack on Samrat Chaudhary and the state government over this appointment. Taking to the social media platform X, she termed the move a "government reward" given to an accused murderer. Rohini argues that entrassing a new responsibility to an officer facing serious allegations of a fake encounter makes a mockery of the justice process. Former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav has also taken a firm stand, alleging that the encounter of Bharat Tiwari was not the result of a personal whim but the outcome of orders received from higher authorities.

The death of Bharat Tiwari—who had emerged as a voice for the poor, displaced residents of Javainya village and was vocal against the corruption rife within the Bhojpur administration—has left many questions unanswered. Family members and villagers allege that this encounter was the result of collusion between the highest echelons of power and senior police officials. By granting a new posting to the accused officer, the government has now cast itself under a cloud of suspicion.

Several serious questions are being directed at the government and the Bihar Police regarding this entire sequence of events. The first is: why has no punitive action been taken so far against the half-dozen police personnel named in the FIR? What is the motive behind refraining from arresting and interrogating them? The snail's pace of the investigation and the lack of transparency surrounding it suggest an attempt to shield a ‘big name.’

Furthermore, the disappearance of the deceased's mobile phone remains a major mystery. The fact that the police have not handed over the phone to the family even a fortnight after the incident raises questions about the seriousness of the investigation. It is noteworthy that Rajesh Sharma’s controversial history is not limited to Ara; he has also faced allegations of involvement in a staged encounter during his posting in Muzaffarpur. Despite this, his appointment to key positions is tarnishing the administration's image in the eyes of the public. For now, the general public and the victim's family are pinning their hopes on justice.