Fake encounter or self-defence? Bharat Tiwari's death puts Bihar Police under fire

All You Need To Know About Bhojpur Encounter

• Bharat Bhushan Tiwari, 28, was a resident of Bilauti village under Shahpur police station in Bhojpur district. He had become known locally for raising public issues through social media and interactions with authorities. Villagers described him as a social activist who highlighted problems faced by poor families, flood victims and displaced communities.

• According to Bhojpur Police, they received information on June 17 that Tiwari was allegedly carrying a pistol and firing in public in Bilauti village. A police team along with STF personnel reached the spot. Police said they repeatedly asked him to surrender, but he allegedly continued firing at the team. The police claimed they retaliated in self-defence and to protect local residents.

• The police said STF personnel wearing bulletproof jackets moved towards Tiwari to control the situation, following which he allegedly opened fire. During the exchange of fire, Tiwari suffered a bullet injury in his leg. He was taken to the Patna Medical College and Hospital for treatment, where he died. Police said they recovered a pistol, two live cartridges, one magazine and two empty shells from the spot.

• The encounter came under scrutiny after videos circulating on social media appeared to show Tiwari throwing away his weapon before the shooting. The authenticity of the videos has not been independently verified. The incident also led to questions over whether the situation could have been handled differently and whether proper encounter procedures were followed.

• Meanwhile, Bihar Police has suspended four policemen, including the Station House Officer, after questions were raised over the handling of the operation. The suspension came after a purported video showed an armed suspect pointing a pistol at security personnel, with allegations that officers failed to respond promptly.

• The controversy has also reached the ruling BJP, with several leaders questioning the manner in which the operation was conducted. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha called the incident "sad and unfortunate" and said there appeared to have been administrative negligence. He said the government would not allow innocent people to suffer and that those responsible for lapses would face action.

• BJP leaders including Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari, Rituraj Sinha and Buxar MLA Anand Mishra have raised concerns over the incident. Mithilesh Tiwari said that if a non-fatal option was available, it should have been considered. Rituraj Sinha called Tiwari’s death tragic and said that while maintaining law and order was important, protectors should not become predators.

• The encounter triggered protests in Shahpur's Bilauti village, where family members and locals blocked the Ara-Buxar four-lane highway by placing Tiwari’s body on the road. The protesters accused the police of carrying out a fake encounter and demanded a high-level investigation.

• A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a CBI probe into the encounter and registration of an FIR against the policemen involved. The plea also seeks an independent expert committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to examine the incident.

• Bhojpuri singer Pawan Singh has also questioned the encounter and demanded a fair investigation, saying the circumstances surrounding Tiwari’s death raised several questions.

  "The incident of Bharat Bhushan Tiwari's death has shaken the entire society. Several questions are being raised over the incident. If the information circulated through various sources and the circumstances shown in the videos are accurate, it is necessary to conduct a fair, transparent and impartial investigation into the entire sequence of events so that the truth can come before the public," Singh said in a post on X.