WILL BHARAT GET JUSTICE? MINISTER RESPONDED

WILL BHARAT GET JUSTICE? MINISTER RESPONDED

6-JULY-ENG 10

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA-------------------------Amid the uproar surrounding the encounter of Bharat Tiwari in Bhojpur, Bihar Government Minister Ashok Chaudhary visited Bilauti village to meet the aggrieved family and listen to their grievances. He spoke with Bharat Tiwari’s mother and assured her that justice would be secured at all costs.

On Sunday, Ashok Chaudhary, the Bihar Government's Minister for Food and Consumer Protection, visited the family of Bharat Bhushan Tiwari in Bilauti village (under the Shahpur police station area) regarding the encounter case. He met Bharat Tiwari’s father, Kashinath Tiwari, his mother, Asha Devi, and other relatives to gather details about the entire incident and assured them that every possible effort would be made to ensure justice.

During the visit, he handed his identity card to Bharat Tiwari’s elder and younger brothers, telling them to come directly to his office if the need arose. Bharat Tiwari’s mother, Asha Devi, alleged to the minister that the role of the Jagdishpur Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Sanjit Kumar, was suspicious. She claimed that her son was killed in his presence and demanded an impartial investigation into the entire matter.

Speaking to the media, Ashok Chaudhary stated that he had spoken with Bharat Tiwari’s mother and father. He noted that he had gained information about several matters he was previously unaware of. He added that he would apprise the Chief Minister of these details and the prevailing situation. The minister affirmed that action would certainly be taken against anyone involved in the incident.

He clarified that there was a false narrative circulating about the DSP receiving a promotion; the reality, he explained, was that the DSP had not been promoted but rather transferred elsewhere to ensure the investigation remained unbiased. He acknowledged that there was public dissatisfaction with the DSP's style of functioning, which was the reason for his transfer.

The minister mentioned that upon arriving there, he learned about the funds—amounting to approximately ₹1,400 crore—that Bharat Tiwari’s mother had spoken of. He noted that Tiwari had been fighting for the cause of the displaced people in the area and possessed a great deal of information. What was the SDM doing here while the encounter involving Bharat Tiwari was taking place? Information regarding all these aspects is being gathered. We will also speak with the chairman of the judicial inquiry commission. We will apprise everyone—from the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister to other concerned officials—of these matters.

Responding to a question from the media about whether Bharat Tiwari would receive justice under Samrat Chaudhary's government, the minister stated that if justice were not the goal or the intention, a judicial inquiry would not have been ordered; the investigation could simply have been entrusted to an Inspector General (IG) of Police. "This is not a monarchy or a regime like Iran's—where if someone's head is severed, the perpetrator's hand is chopped off in retaliation; here, we have a judicial system." He added that while it might take some time, justice would certainly be served.