Patna: The chief of Bageshwar Dham, Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, has said he will visit the village of Bharat Tiwari and meet his family, as questions continue to be raised over the circumstances of his death following a police encounter.
Shastri made the remarks during a darbar in Bhiwandi, Mumbai, stating that any punishment must come through the judiciary and not outside legal process. He also called for a fair and transparent investigation into the case.
Call for Judicial Process and Investigation
Addressing the gathering, Shastri said that even if a person is accused of a crime, it is the court that decides punishment. He added that a person should not lose their life after surrendering, and that the matter requires a proper inquiry.
He further said that the questions being raised around the encounter should be clarified and the truth must come out through an impartial investigation.
Planned Visit to Family
Shastri announced that he would soon visit Bilauti village in Shahpur to meet the family of Bharat Tiwari. He also described Tiwari as a young man associated with social and religious activism.
Background of the Case
The case came into public focus after a video of Bharat Tiwari surfaced on social media on June 16, in which he made allegations against the administration and police and spoke about his demands.
According to villagers, Tiwari had been working for displaced families in Javaniya village affected by Ganga riverbank erosion and floods over the past two years. Local accounts claim more than 600 houses in the area were impacted.
Family Allegations and Police Response
Tiwari’s mother, Asha Devi, has alleged that police visited their home on June 15 and issued threats. The police have not confirmed these allegations.
The family says the situation escalated after this incident, with Tiwari allegedly becoming a target of police action. Authorities have not issued a detailed response to these claims.
Death After Encounter
Police officials said Tiwari was arrested in an injured condition following a confrontation on June 17. He later died while undergoing treatment at Patna Medical College And Hospital.
His family has questioned the circumstances of the encounter, claiming that he had surrendered and was still shot, demanding clarity on the sequence of events.
