Public outrage over the police encounter death of Bharat Bhushan Tiwari in Bihar's Bhojpur district continued to mount on Wednesday, 24 June, as a large Mahapanchayat convened in Bilauti village — the deceased's ancestral home — with attendees pledging to sustain the agitation until justice is delivered. The gathering drew sharp political attention after Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor addressed the crowd and demanded accountability extending well beyond the officers who allegedly pulled the trigger.

What Prashant Kishor Said

Kishor argued that suspending a Station House Officer (SHO) or taking action against a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) would fall far short of justice. He alleged that the operation was planned and authorised from Patna, and that lower-level officials were being made scapegoats to deflect public pressure.

'The Chief Minister has not expressed condolences to the family. The case was mishandled from the beginning, and now lower-level officials are being made scapegoats to ease public pressure,' Kishor said, addressing the Mahapanchayat.

He stated that the victim's mother was not seeking financial compensation or employment — only accountability for her son's death. Kishor also criticised what he described as a growing encounter culture in Bihar, warning against normalising gunfire as a law-enforcement tool.

Questions Over the Judicial Enquiry

Kishor questioned the government's announcement of a judicial enquiry, noting that authorities had not clarified who would conduct it or what its scope would be. He specifically asked whether the probe would examine only the officers who allegedly fired the shots or also investigate those who allegedly directed the operation from higher up the chain of command.

He also criticised Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary over remarks that reportedly appeared to justify the police action, arguing that policing exists to protect citizens, not to resort to lethal force as a first response.

Background: The Encounter and Its Disputed Account

Bharat Bhushan Tiwari died in a police encounter on 17 June in Bilauti village under the Shahpur police station jurisdiction in Bhojpur district. Police officials have maintained that the firing occurred in self-defence during what they described as a retaliatory exchange.

However, the victim's family alleges that Tiwari had already surrendered his weapon at the time he was shot. The case gained wider traction after a video purportedly showing the incident circulated publicly, intensifying demands for an impartial investigation.

Kishor further stated that Tiwari was not mentally unstable but had been pushed into distress by circumstances and unresolved administrative grievances, and that he had been raising local concerns rather than engaging in any personal conflict.

Action Taken So Far

A case has been registered against five police personnel, including the SDPO and the SHO, and investigations are reportedly ongoing. Critics, however, argue that these steps do not address the alleged role of senior officials who may have authorised or planned the operation.

The incident has become a significant political flashpoint in Bihar, with opposition leaders and civil society groups calling for an impartial enquiry and full accountability up the chain of command.

What Comes Next

Kishor announced plans to seek a meeting with Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary within the next 15 days. He warned that if justice is not delivered and the role of the Home Department is not investigated, the Jan Suraaj movement will escalate its protests. The Mahapanchayat's resolution to continue the agitation signals that political pressure on the Bihar government is unlikely to ease in the near term.