Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Saturday announced a judicial inquiry by a retired high court judge into the controversial police firing incident that killed 22-year-old Bharat Bhushan Tiwari in Bilauti village under Shahpur police station area in Bhojpur district on June 17. Tiwari succumbed to bullet injuries at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH).
Decision Follows Conflicting Claims and BJP Criticism
The move came after conflicting accounts of the shooting and rare public criticism from senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) functionaries. In a Hindi post on X, Choudhary stated, “A decision has been taken to conduct a judicial inquiry by a retired judge of the high court for an independent and impartial investigation into the police encounter that took place at Bilauti village of Shahpur police station area in Bhojpur district on June 17, 2026.” He added, “The purpose of the judicial inquiry is to ensure an investigation of all aspects of the incident with impartiality and transparency.”
Viral Video Sparks Controversy
The encounter has ignited a major political and public debate due to a viral video recorded shortly before the firing. In the video, Tiwari is seen throwing away his firearm and indicating he wanted to surrender. Bhojpur police, however, claimed that Tiwari fired at the team, prompting officers to retaliate in self-defence. His relatives alleged that he was killed in cold blood after surrendering.
Police Suspensions and Preliminary Findings
Following a preliminary scrutiny that found procedural lapses and delays in shifting Tiwari to hospitals, the Sahabad range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) suspended four police personnel, including Shahpur Station House Officer (SHO) Rajesh Kumar.
Police had initially been searching for Tiwari after a complaint that he displayed an illegal pistol on social media and made a viral video threatening a sub-divisional officer. Shahpur police visited his house twice on June 15 to question him and seize the weapon. When the police team returned for a third visit on June 16, Tiwari allegedly resisted arrest, aimed the pistol at police, and held the SHO at gunpoint for nearly 20 minutes, warning he would shoot if they advanced. The team withdrew without arresting him.
Standoff and Fatal Raid
A video of the standoff went viral, triggering outrage over law and order. Senior police officers then deployed a larger force, including the Special Task Force, on June 17. During the raid, Tiwari again went live on social media, allegedly brandished the weapon, and ran into an open field while raising demands. The fatal shooting followed after he threw the pistol during the livestreaming.
BJP Leaders Demand Accountability
The case drew sharp reactions from BJP functionaries. Education minister Mithilesh Tiwari said, “This is a serious matter of accountability. If a youth makes a mistake, there is a legal framework and a scale of punishment. Direct execution cannot be the final solution. The Bihar Police must exercise utmost patience. They carry a dual responsibility: To penalise hardened criminals, but equally, to guide misled youths back to the correct path.”
BJP national secretary Rituraj Sinha said, “Law enforcement personnel must not turn from protectors into predators.” He welcomed the suspensions and said guilty officers must face criminal prosecution. He also argued that departmental suspension alone would not meet the test of accountability in court.
