Patna: The family of Bharat Tiwari, who died in a police encounter in Bhojpur’s Bilauti village on June 17, has said that justice remains its priority and that it will consider the Bihar government’s offer of financial assistance and a government job only after action is taken against those they have accused in the case.
Tiwari’s mother, Asha Devi, has demanded the arrest of all 11 accused, including police officials, and sought their prosecution and the maximum punishment permissible under law if they are found guilty.
“My son was a patriot. I have no greed for money or a job. I trust Samrat Choudhary. All 11 accused who are roaming freely should be arrested and sent to jail. The court should give them the death penalty. What more justice can an elderly mother ask for?” Asha Devi told Dainik Bhaskar.
She also appealed to the Bihar government to confer martyr status on her son on Independence Day and sought proper rehabilitation and facilities for people displaced in the area.
The family’s reaction came after an interim report of the judicial inquiry into the encounter was submitted to the Bihar government on Thursday. Following the report, Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary announced on social media that the government would provide financial assistance to Bharat Tiwari’s family and a government job to one eligible family member.
The judicial inquiry, headed by retired Patna High Court judge Justice Vinod Kumar Sinha, is examining the circumstances surrounding Tiwari’s death. The case has remained contentious, with the family alleging that Tiwari had surrendered before he was shot, while the police have maintained a different account of the incident.
Bharat Tiwari’s family had met CM on July 24
On July 24, Asha Devi, Tiwari’s sister and sister-in-law met Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and sought justice in the case.
On Thursday, the family also visited the office of the judicial inquiry commission and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Patna. According to the family, they were informed at the NHRC office that more than 2,000 complaints had been submitted against the accused SDM, SDPO and other police personnel in connection with the encounter.
Asha Devi also signed the relevant documents at the NHRC’s Patna office.
‘Government announcement is good, but our demands must be met first’
Asha Devi said the government’s decision to provide financial assistance and a job was welcome, but insisted that the family’s demands must be addressed first.
She alleged that the SDM, SDPO, station house officer and other officials involved in the incident should first be arrested and prosecuted.
“Only STF jawan Akshay Kumar has been arrested so far. The main accused in the case is still moving around freely. They should be arrested at the earliest,” she said.
She also alleged that three women police personnel assaulted her and her daughter-in-law on the day of the incident and demanded action against them.
Asha Devi also questioned the presence of then-SDM Sanjeet Kumar at the site, asking what duty he was performing there on the day of the encounter.
Bharat’s brother seeks justice before accepting government offer
Bharat Tiwari’s brother Chandan Tiwari said the government’s decision was welcome but maintained that the family’s first priority was justice.
“The government has come on the back foot. My family should get justice first. The accused police personnel should be arrested. Only after that will we accept the government’s decision,” he said.
Chandan said the family did not need money or a government job and wanted to see those accused behind bars.
He also said the family would meet the Chief Minister after the arrests were made. According to him, the NHRC had assured the family that those found responsible would not be spared.
Sister-in-law seeks martyr status and memorial
Bharat’s sister-in-law, Suman Devi, said the family would consider the government job only after those responsible for his death were punished.
She also demanded that the government confer martyr status on Bharat Tiwari and construct a memorial in his memory.
Suman said Bharat should be given martyr status on August 15, describing him as a “revolutionary” and alleging that he was killed by those responsible for his death.
One arrest so far in encounter case
Only one arrest has been reported so far in the Bharat Tiwari encounter case. Bhojpur Police arrested STF personnel Akshay Kumar in connection with the encounter.
The then station house officer, Rajesh Malakar, was suspended. Rajesh Sharma, who was subsequently posted as a DSP in Patna’s prohibition department, was again attached to the police lines after Bharat’s family met the Chief Minister, according to the information provided by the family.
Then-Jagdishpur SDM Sanjeet Kumar was also removed from his post and attached to the Patna headquarters.
The judicial inquiry had recorded statements from Asha Devi, Suman Devi, Chandan Tiwari and more than 10 other people in connection with the case.
The government’s announcement of financial assistance and a government job follows the submission of the interim judicial inquiry report, but the investigation into the circumstances of Bharat Tiwari’s death remains ongoing. The allegations against the police officials and other accused are yet to be established by a court.
