NEW TWIST IN BHARAT BHUSHAN ENCOUNTER CASE

NEW TWIST IN BHARAT BHUSHAN ENCOUNTER CASE

30-JULY-ENG 6

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA------------------------A case has come to light involving death threats issued to the family members of Bharat Bhushan Tiwari, who was killed in an encounter in Bilauti village under the Shahpur police station area of ​​Bhojpur district. Anshu Kumar Chaubey, Bharat Tiwari's cousin, was also assaulted. The incident occurred on Tuesday. A video of the assault has surfaced, showing individuals attacking Bharat Bhushan Tiwari's cousin.

The video also shows police personnel and Bharat Bhushan Tiwari's family members attempting to intervene. Two separate FIRs have been lodged at the Shahpur police station regarding this matter. The complaints accuse Saroj Tripathi (a resident of Bilauti village), his brother Pankaj Tripathi, and fellow villagers Amrish Kumar Tiwari and his son Umesh Tiwari of issuing threats and committing assault.

Following the incident, Jagdishpur SDPO Pankaj Kumar Mishra and Shahpur Station House Officer (SHO) Santosh Kumar Singh visited Bilauti to investigate the matter. Officials gathered details about the incident from Bharat Bhushan Tiwari's family members. The police have registered an FIR and have begun efforts to apprehend the accused.

However, an interesting twist has emerged in the case following the incidents of threats and assault. It is reported that Pankaj Tripathi and his brother, Saroj Tripathi, had actively participated in the agitation following the encounter of Bharat Bhushan Tiwari. Both brothers played a pivotal role in protests ranging from road blockades to demonstrations at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Consequently, the allegations of intimidation leveled against the brothers have introduced a new dimension to the entire matter.

The FIR, registered based on the statement of Bharat Bhushan Tiwari's mother, Asha Devi, accuses Saroj Tripathi and his brother Pankaj Tripathi—both from Bilauti village—of making death threats over the phone, using abusive language, and engaging in the character assassination of her family members on social media. The brothers are also accused of intimidating witnesses.

Asha Devi stated that she had visited the Chief Minister with her family members a few days ago. On July 28, a relative handling the case regarding Bharat Bhushan Tiwari's encounter received a death threat; threats had been issued prior to this as well. Obscene messages and abusive language targeting her, her daughter, and her daughter-in-law are being circulated on social media, including allegations that they have "sold out" for money.

Asha Devi has held Saroj Tripathi and his brother Pankaj Tripathi responsible for this entire episode. She asserted that if any untoward incident befalls her family or relatives, Saroj Tripathi and Pankaj Tripathi would be held accountable.

Meanwhile, the Tripathi brothers have dismissed all these allegations as false and baseless. They claim that Bharat Bhushan Tiwari's family members are leveling these accusations at the instigation of others.

A named FIR regarding the assault has been lodged by Anshu Kumar Chaubey, a cousin (paternal aunt's son) of Bharat Bhushan Tiwari and a resident of Sikariya village under the Tiyar police station area. It is stated that he has been actively working to ensure that witnesses to the Bharat Bhushan Tiwari encounter testify before the judicial commission and the court. Around 6:00 AM on July 28, he was at his paternal aunt's house in Bilauti village when Umesh Tiwari and his son, Amrish Kumar Tiwari, arrived accompanied by four or five unidentified individuals on motorcycles. Immediately upon arrival, Amrish Kumar Tiwari and Umesh Tiwari began assaulting him with kicks, punches, and iron rods, leaving him injured.

Anshu Kumar Choubey has alleged that he had previously received threats of dire consequences and death. Reports indicate that the SDPO and the Station House Officer (SHO) had visited Bilauti village on Wednesday morning following the emergence of the threats against Bharat Bhushan Tiwari. The assault on Anshu Kumar Choubey took place shortly after the officials left. A video of the assault has also surfaced, showing individuals attacking Bharat Bhushan Tiwari's cousin. The footage captures police personnel and family members—including Bharat Bhushan Tiwari's parents—attempting to intervene and stop the altercation.

It is worth noting that Bharat Bhushan Tiwari was killed in a police encounter on the morning of June 17. He had sustained gunshot wounds and subsequently died while undergoing treatment in Patna. The incident sparked a massive uproar, leading to road blockades. Later, based on a statement by Bharat Bhushan Tiwari's mother, Asha Devi, an FIR for murder was registered against several police personnel, including the then-SDPO of Jagdishpur, Rajesh Kumar Sharma, and the then-SHO of Shahpur, Rajesh Malakar. The entire matter is being investigated by retired judge Vinod Kumar Sinha It is being conducted by the judicial commission constituted under the chairmanship of Vinod Kumar Sinha. The first phase of testimony has also been completed.