Bihar’s Bhojpur encounter row deepens, Maha Panchayat called on Wednesday

The controversial Bharat Bhushan Tiwari encounter case in Bihar’s Bhojpur district has taken a fresh turn, with his family and supporters calling for a ‘Maha Panchayat’ on Wednesday in Bilauti village. More than 10,000 people are expected to attend the community gathering, which aims to press for a fair investigation into the case.

The gathering will also discuss future strategies and determine the course of the ongoing movement.

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People from 36 communities across the region, along with members of the educated and influential sections of society, have been invited to participate. Organisers said the platform would demonstrate social unity and strengthen the demand for justice.

They added that the meeting would not be limited to protest alone but would also focus on charting the future direction of the campaign.

On Monday, family members and friends of Bharat Bhushan Tiwari met political strategist Prashant Kishor, seeking his support in securing justice for Tiwari and stressing the need for an impartial investigation and appropriate action.

The family also invited the Jan Suraaj founder to attend the ‘Maha Panchayat’ and appealed for his support. Kishor assured the family of all possible assistance in their fight for justice and pledged continued support.

Bhojpuri film star Khesari Lal Yadav also met the family and supported the demand for justice. However, he cautioned against turning the campaign into merely a crowd-gathering exercise. “Justice should not only be done, it should also be seen to be done, and for that, restraint and patience are extremely important,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bihar Police Headquarters acknowledged serious lapses by Shahpur Police during the initial handling of the incident.

ADG (Law and Order) Sudhanshu Kumar said that when the Shahpur Station House Officer (SHO) and his team first visited Bharat Tiwari’s residence, the situation was not handled appropriately. As a result, one SHO, two Sub-Inspectors, one Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), and two constables have been suspended.

He said investigators were examining the entire sequence of events and that all allegations and facts related to the case were being probed through due legal process.

At the departmental level, Bihar Police Headquarters has assigned the inquiry to the DIG of the Shahabad Range. In addition, the Bihar government has ordered a judicial inquiry headed by a retired judge of the Patna High Court to independently investigate the matter.