Patna/Ara: Union minister and LJP(RV) chief Chirag Paswan demanded immediate arrest of the police personnel accused of alleged killing of Bharat Bhushan Tiwari at Bilauti village in Bhojpur district on June 17.The LJP chief, who met Union home minister Amit Shah on Thursday in this regard as well as the murder of two dalit youths in Nalanda, said he would apprise him of the feelings of Bharat’s family.Chirag met Bharat’s mother and family on Friday and assured her of justice. He told reporters that it was a “murder” in the name of a police encounter and asserted that all those accused in the case would be arrested. He also said if needed, a higher-level inquiry will be ensured in the case. “The govt is committed to ensuring justice to the bereaved family,” Chirag said.He said, “If Bharat had surrendered, he could have been arrested and a thorough investigation could have been done in the case. Why did the cops kill him? If the upholder of law starts violating it, people will lose faith in the law of the land.”Commenting on the efforts by a few politicians to stoke caste politics over the incident, Chirag said he would meet chief minister Samrat Choudhary to discuss the matter. Senior JD(U) minister Ashok Choudhary has also questioned the police action and said some politicians were trying to tarnish CM’s image by issuing political and caste statements.He also criticised the alleged transfer of a police officer, who has been made an accused in the case by the family. “I will talk to the CM in this regard. Nobody is above the law,” he said.Sensing the gravity of the situation, the district administration has refused permission to a proposed ‘Bahujan mahapanchayat’ in Jagdishpur on July 5. Union minister and HAM(S) founder Jitan Ram Manjhi, who had planned to attend the mahapanchayat, took a U-turn on Thursday and said everyone should maintain restraint.The first Union minister to visit Tiwari’s family, Chirag paid floral tribute to Bharat’s portrait and said if any officer considers himself above the law, he, too, won’t be spared.Leader of opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav alleged that a senior police officer ordered the special task force (STF) to kill Bharat despite video footage showing him surrendering before the police.The state govt has constituted a judicial inquiry by a retired high court judge, who has started the probe.Chirag said every individual named in the FIR lodged by Tiwari’s mother Asha Devi would be arrested.“People will lose faith in the justice system if any guilty is spared. Strictest punishment is a must for those officers who, for their vested interests, were involved in the killing of Bharat Tiwari,” he said.
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