PATNA: The alleged police encounter of Bharat Bhushan Tiwari continues to generate political and public debate, with protests now extending beyond Bihar to the national capital. As demands for an impartial investigation grow louder, differing views within Bihar’s ruling alliance have highlighted an emerging political divide over the handling of the case.
The latest disagreement surfaced after senior JD(U) leader and Bihar Minister Ashok Choudhary visited Bilauti village in Bhojpur district, where 28-year-old Bharat Bhushan Tiwari was killed during a police operation on June 17. Choudhary met the bereaved family and stated that justice should prevail and that anyone found responsible for wrongdoing must be held accountable.
However, Rural Development Minister Shrawan Kumar, another senior JD(U) leader, later clarified that Choudhary’s visit and statements were made in his personal capacity and did not reflect either the official position of the Janata Dal (United) or the Bihar government.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Kumar said the government’s stand would be based on the findings of the judicial inquiry already ordered into the incident. He also observed that public representatives should exercise restraint before making comments on matters that are under investigation.
The encounter has placed the NDA government in Bihar under increasing political pressure, particularly because it occurred during the tenure of the state’s first BJP Chief Minister. While some alliance leaders have demanded accountability from the police, others have defended the security forces’ actions, exposing visible differences within the coalition.
Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan, after visiting Bilauti village and meeting Tiwari’s family, described the killing as unjustified and called for the immediate arrest of the police personnel allegedly involved. According to Paswan, if Tiwari had indicated a willingness to surrender, the police should have taken him into custody and allowed the legal process to determine his guilt or innocence.
“If a person is surrendering, the law requires arrest and investigation, not an encounter,” Paswan said, adding that such incidents erode public confidence in law enforcement.
In contrast, Union Minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) founder Jitan Ram Manjhi defended the police operation, questioning why Tiwari was allegedly carrying a firearm if he genuinely intended to surrender.
Meanwhile, Tiwari’s mother, Asha Devi, has announced that she will begin an indefinite sit-in protest in Bilauti village from July 9 if the government does not initiate stronger action against those she holds responsible for her son’s death. She has given the administration until July 8 to respond to the family’s demands.
Bilauti village has continued to witness a steady flow of visitors since the incident. Political leaders, social activists, and residents from neighbouring districts of Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh have travelled to the village to express solidarity with the family and demand a transparent investigation.
Several prominent political figures have already visited the family, including Independent MP Pappu Yadav and Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor, both of whom have questioned the circumstances surrounding the encounter.
According to the official police version, Bharat Bhushan Tiwari was killed after a two-day standoff during which he allegedly opened fire on police personnel, forcing them to retaliate in self-defence.
However, that account continues to be strongly disputed by Tiwari’s relatives and many local residents.
Family members maintain that Bharat had already decided to surrender and had discarded the revolver he was carrying before the police opened fire. They have also pointed to social media posts allegedly made by Tiwari shortly before the incident, claiming these reflected his intention to give himself up rather than engage in a gun battle.
In recent days, additional questions have emerged over whether Tiwari may have had access to a second firearm or another weapon during the operation. While some reports and local discussions have raised this possibility, there has been no official confirmation from investigators regarding the existence, recovery, or use of any second weapon. The issue is expected to form part of the ongoing judicial inquiry, which is examining the sequence of events, forensic evidence, and the actions of all those involved.
The Bihar government has already ordered a judicial probe into the encounter and suspended several police personnel connected with the operation pending the outcome of the investigation. As public scrutiny intensifies and political pressure continues to mount, the findings of the inquiry are likely to play a crucial role in determining whether the encounter was a lawful police action or whether further criminal proceedings are warranted.