Bihar government orders judicial enquiry into Bhojpur police encounter

Patna,UPDATED: Jun 20, 2026 20:21 IST

The Bihar government has ordered a judicial enquiry into the police encounter in Bhojpur district in which Bharat Bhushan Tiwari was killed. Tiwari, a resident of Bilauti village in the Shahpur police station area, was shot during a police operation on Wednesday.

Samrat Choudhary said on X, 'It has been decided to conduct an independent judicial enquiry into the Wednesday encounter in Bilauti village under the aegis of a retired High Court judge.' He said the enquiry would ensure a thorough investigation of all aspects of the incident with complete impartiality and transparency.

The announcement came after Bihar Police suspended four policemen, including a Station House Officer, in connection with the Bhojpur incident. The action followed a purported video in which an armed suspect was seen pointing a pistol at security personnel on Tuesday, while the officers allegedly failed to respond promptly.

Police had said they opened fire on Wednesday in 'self-defence' and to 'ensure public safety' after Tiwari allegedly fired at officers during the operation in Bilauti village. He died while being taken to Patna Medical College and Hospital for treatment.

There were, however, differing accounts about Tiwari. The initial police statement on Tuesday described him as reportedly being 'mentally unsound', while others, including his family members, said he was a public activist who regularly raised local issues before the administration.

In another purported video circulating on social media, Tiwari could be seen throwing away his weapon before the encounter. PTI could not independently verify the authenticity of the video. The police statement, meanwhile, said Tiwari kept firing at the police, leading to retaliatory firing in 'self-defence', during which he suffered a bullet injury in his leg. The government has now ordered a judicial probe, even as questions remain over the circumstances of the encounter and the police response.

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