NEW DELHI: As protests by civil society, in the Bharat Bhushan Tiwari encounter case reach Delhi, there seems to be a difference of opinion among the political class in Bihar.
A day after Bihar Minister and senior JD(U) leader Ashok Choudhary visited Bilauti village in Bihar’s Bhojpur district, where 28-year-old Bharat Bhushan Tiwari was killed in an alleged police encounter on June 17, another senior JD(U) leader, Rural Development Minister Shrawan Kumar, clarified on Monday (July 6, 2026) that Choudhary’s visit and remarks reflected his personal views and should not be interpreted as the official stand of either the party or the State government.
During his visit to the village on Sunday, Choudhary met Tiwari’s family and asserted that justice must be delivered and those responsible for any wrongdoing should be held accountable.
The alleged encounter has placed the NDA government in Bihar under considerable political pressure. The incident is particularly sensitive as it comes during the tenure of the State’s first BJP Chief Minister. While Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan described the killing as unjustified after meeting Tiwari’s family, another NDA ally, Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi, defended the police action.
Bharat Bhushan Tiwari, a resident of Bilauti village in Bhojpur district, was killed on June 17 in what police described as an encounter. The incident sparked widespread criticism from local residents and political leaders, triggering a major political controversy. In response, the Bihar government ordered a judicial inquiry and suspended several police personnel allegedly involved in the operation.
Meanwhile, Tiwari’s mother, Asha Devi, has announced that she will begin an indefinite dharna in the village from July 9 if the government fails to act against those she holds responsible for her son’s death. She said she would wait until July 8 for action before launching the protest the following day.
Since the incident, Bilauti village has witnessed a steady stream of visitors, including people from neighbouring districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh, who have been offering condolences and expressing solidarity with the bereaved family.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Shrawan Kumar emphasized that Ashok Choudhary’s comments were made in his personal capacity and did not represent the government’s or the JD(U)’s official position.
“Whatever Ashok Choudhary has said may be his individual opinion. It is neither the party’s stand nor the government’s official view. His visit to Bharat Tiwari’s village was also a personal one and should not be seen as an official government initiative,” Kumar said.
The senior JD(U) leader, who has represented Nalanda in the Assembly multiple times, also remarked that public representatives should exercise caution before making such statements.
Earlier, Union Minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) president Jitan Ram Manjhi had defended the police action, questioning why Tiwari was allegedly carrying a revolver if his intentions were genuine.
On July 3, Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan visited Bilauti village and met the grieving family. He called for the immediate arrest of the police personnel accused in the case.
“This was a murder carried out in the name of a police encounter. Every accused officer must be arrested,” Paswan told reporters.
He further argued that if Tiwari had surrendered, the police should have taken him into custody and conducted a proper investigation instead of resorting to lethal force.
“If Bharat had surrendered, he could have been arrested and the case investigated thoroughly. Why was he killed? When those entrusted with enforcing the law begin violating it themselves, public confidence in the justice system is bound to suffer,” Paswan said.
Several other political leaders have also visited Bilauti village to express their condolences, including Independent MP from Purnea Rajesh Ranjan, popularly known as Pappu Yadav, and Jan Suraaj Party founder and former election strategist Prashant Kishor.
According to the police, Bharat Bhushan Tiwari was killed on June 17 after a two-day standoff in Bhojpur district. Officials claimed that they opened fire in self-defence after Tiwari allegedly shot at the police.
However, Tiwari’s family and many villagers have rejected the police version, alleging that the encounter was staged. They contend that Tiwari had attempted to surrender by throwing away his revolver before the police opened fire. The family has also cited his social media posts to support their claim that he intended to surrender rather than engage in a confrontation.
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