News Desk : The judicial inquiry into the controversial death of Bhojpur resident Bharat Bhushan Tiwari has officially begun, with retired Patna High Court judge Justice Vinod Kumar Sinha recording statements from the victim's family and inspecting the encounter site.

Justice Sinha visited Bilouti village on Thursday and met Tiwari's parents as part of the investigation into the June 17 police encounter that claimed the 28-year-old's life. The probe follows widespread outrage and allegations that Tiwari was shot despite agreeing to surrender. According to family members, Tiwari's mother told the commission that her son had laid down his weapon, but police grabbed him, threw him into a pit, and shot him five times. The family has maintained that the encounter was staged and has demanded accountability from senior police officials involved in the operation.

The case has already led to significant action, with a murder case registered against a senior police officer and a station house officer, while five policemen have been suspended for alleged negligence. A massive mahapanchayat held in the village on Wednesday also issued a 15-day ultimatum to the government to ensure justice. Adding to the controversy, former Bihar DGP Abhayanand described the incident as a "murder" rather than an encounter, questioning the conduct of the police operation and calling for accountability at multiple levels.

As the judicial commission begins its fact-finding exercise, the focus now shifts to whether the probe can establish the circumstances that led to Bharat Bhushan Tiwari's death and determine responsibility in one of Bihar's most debated police encounter cases in recent years.