Bihar has ordered a judicial inquiry into the Bharat Tiwari police encounter after the 28-year-old died following a disputed operation in Bilauti village in Bhojpur district. The case has prompted protests, political criticism and a murder FIR naming police personnel.
What Happened in the Bharat Tiwari Police Encounter
Police said officers and Special Task Force personnel went to Bilauti village on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, after receiving reports that Tiwari was carrying a pistol and firing in public.
According to police, Tiwari ignored instructions to surrender and fired at officers, prompting them to return fire in self-defense.
Police said Tiwari was shot in the leg and taken to Patna Medical College and Hospital, where he later died. Officers reported recovering a pistol, two live cartridges, a magazine and two spent shells.
Tiwari’s family and villagers reject the police account. They allege that he had surrendered and was unarmed when officers shot him.
A purported video appears to show Tiwari throwing away a weapon before the shooting. However, its authenticity and full context have not been independently established.
Murder FIR Names Bihar Police Personnel
A murder case was registered on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, following a complaint by Tiwari’s mother, Asha Devi.
The FIR names the Jagdishpur sub-divisional police officer, Shahpur’s former station house officer and other police personnel.
The inquiry is being supervised by retired High Court judge Vinod Kumar Sinha, who visited Tiwari’s village on Thursday, June 25, 2026.
Seers associated with a regional Brahmin Sabha also submitted a memorandum seeking a judicial investigation, murder charges against any officers found responsible and justice for Tiwari’s family.
Spiritual leader Devkinandan Thakur criticized the police response in a Facebook post and described Tiwari as a social worker. Opposition parties and some Bharatiya Janata Party leaders in Bihar’s ruling coalition have also called for accountability.
The inquiry will examine the conflicting accounts, the circumstances surrounding the shooting and whether officers followed proper procedure. Its findings will be central to determining responsibility in a case that has intensified scrutiny of police encounter practices in Bihar.
