Bharat Bhushan Tiwari encounter: Retired judge Vinod Sinha arrived to conduct judicial inquiry

Judicial investigation has formally started in the famous Bharat Bhushan Tiwari encounter case of Bhojpur, Bihar. Retired judge Vinod Kumar Sinha, appointed by the Bihar government, reached Biloti village of Shahpur police station area. Here he inspected the incident site in detail and took information about every aspect related to the entire incident. Earlier, five policemen have been suspended in this case. Recently, Bhojpuri SP had met the family of Bharat Tiwari, who was killed in the encounter, and assured to get justice.

When Justice Sinha reached Biloti, DIG Satya Prakash of Shahabad area, DM of Bhojpur Tanay Sultania and SP Raj and many senior administrative and police officers of the district were present. The judicial team understood the complete chronology of the encounter that took place on June 17 from the local police officers. Where were the bullets fired at the spot, in what position was the police party and where was Bharat Tiwari present – ​​all these points were verified on the spot.

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According to sources, Justice Sinha also tried to talk to the villagers but not many people came forward in the initial phase. The team has also compiled documents related to the incident, FSL report, post mortem report and a copy of the FIR lodged by the police.

What happened on 17th June?

It is noteworthy that on June 17, Bharat Bhushan Tiwari was killed in a police encounter in Biloti village of Shahpur. Police claimed that Bharat had fired at the police team and was killed in retaliation, while family members and villagers alleged that it was a fake encounter. Bharat Tiwari was fighting to provide electricity and water to 80 families of Jamunia village who were displaced due to Ganga erosion, that is why he was killed as part of a conspiracy.

Questions were being raised on this matter since the encounter. Opposition and many organizations including Jan Suraj’s Prashant Kishor had called it a fake encounter and demanded a high-level investigation. After increasing pressure, the Bihar government constituted a judicial commission for an impartial investigation of the case and appointed retired judge Vinod Kumar Sinha as the investigating officer. Some BJP leaders had also raised questions regarding the encounter.

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Now what next?

Justice Sinha’s team will now record the statements of eyewitnesses. Policemen will be interrogated separately. Forensic investigation and ballistic report of the incident spot will also be matched. The focus of the investigation is on 5 big questions:

1. Circumstances of the encounter: Was there really firing on the police?
2. Protocol: Was SOP followed before firing?
3. Whose order: Did any senior officer from Patna order the encounter?
4. Role of the Magistrate: What was the role of the magistrate who signed the firing order?
5. Motive: Was there any land or political conspiracy behind Bharat’s murder?

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Village’s eyes fixed on investigation

As soon as the judicial investigation started, the eyes of the entire Bhojpur district including Biloti village are fixed on it. The villagers hope that the investigation will reveal the truth. Bharat’s family has already said that they want justice, not compensation or job. Now everyone’s eyes are on the investigation report. Only after the report comes, it will be clear whether the encounter that took place in Biloti on June 17 was real or a conspiracy. If found guilty, everyone from the police officers to the leaders giving the orders may be punished.