Ara (Bhojpur): The investigation into the controversial encounter killing of Bharat Bhushan Tiwari has taken a fresh turn with the arrest of Special Task Force (STF) constable Akshay Kumar, while the victim’s family has levelled serious allegations against police officers, claiming Tiwari was shot despite surrendering before officials.
Akshay Kumar was arrested by a joint team of the STF and Bhojpur Police on Friday after a court-issued warrant in connection with an FIR lodged by Bharat Tiwari’s mother, Asha Devi, accusing him of murder. Bhojpur Superintendent of Police Raj confirmed the arrest, stating that the accused had repeatedly failed to appear before investigators and the judicial inquiry commission despite being summoned as a witness.
Speaking to Dainik Bhaskar, Bharat Tiwari’s sister-in-law, Suman Devi, alleged that the incident unfolded after Tiwari surrendered during a Facebook Live video on June 17.
According to Suman Devi, Tiwari threw away his weapon in front of the then Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Rajesh Kumar Sharma and then Station House Officer (SHO) Rajesh Kumar Malakar. She claimed the SDPO placed a hand on his shoulder, assured him that his demands would be considered, and began escorting him toward a police vehicle.
She alleged that at that moment, STF constable Akshay Kumar ran toward Tiwari from a distance, abused him, and fired the first shot in his leg in the presence of senior officers.
Suman Devi further alleged that despite being hit, Tiwari remained standing, following which the then SDPO allegedly fired a second shot and the then SHO fired a third. She claimed that when family members attempted to reach Tiwari, police personnel assaulted them with batons and prevented them from approaching him.
She also accused police of dragging Tiwari into a vehicle while he was still shouting “Jai Hind” slogans and alleged that two more shots were fired at him inside the moving vehicle. According to her, instead of immediately taking him to a hospital, police first transported him to Shahpur police station before he was eventually shifted to Sadar Hospital, where he later died during treatment.
The family further alleged that STF personnel had been abusing and threatening Tiwari during the Facebook Live broadcast prior to the shooting.
Suman Devi demanded the arrest of the then SDM Sanjeet Kumar, former SDPO Rajesh Kumar Sharma and former SHO Rajesh Kumar Malakar, alleging they were also involved in the incident. She said Akshay Kumar’s arrest alone was insufficient and called for strict action against all officials named by the family.
Police, however, have maintained that after surrendering during the Facebook Live session, Tiwari allegedly attempted to pick up his pistol again and opened fire, prompting retaliatory action in which he was shot in the legs.
As part of the investigation, police have seized the service pistols of several officers who were present during the encounter, including Akshay Kumar, former SHO Rajesh Malakar, and other police personnel, for forensic examination.
The judicial inquiry commission, headed by retired Patna High Court judge Justice Vinod Kumar Sinha, has sought certified copies of the post-mortem report, forensic science laboratory (FSL) findings, case diaries, seized weapon reports, viscera examination records, and any available electronic or video evidence related to the encounter. The commission had issued these directions to the Bhojpur district administration and police on July 23.
According to police, Akshay Kumar, a resident of Arwal district, was produced before a court after his medical examination and subsequently remanded to judicial custody.
Senior criminal lawyer Surendra Singh said that if evidence such as video recordings, eyewitness testimony or forensic findings establishes the allegations, the accused could face severe punishment under law, including life imprisonment or, in exceptional circumstances, the death penalty. He added that the outcome would depend on the evidence presented during trial.
The Bharat Tiwari encounter has remained under judicial scrutiny since June 17, with investigators examining the circumstances surrounding his surrender, the subsequent police action and the sequence of events that led to his death.
