Bharat Tiwari Encounter Row: The Bharat Tiwari encounter in Bihar's Bhojpur district continued to make headlines. Days after the Mahapanchayat in Bhojpur, family members and locals attempted to erect a memorial (Statue) of the deceased, which drew the local administration's attention.
The development created another controversy as the authorities stopped the construction of a memorial for Tiwari. Upon learning of the memorial's construction, the Bhojpur administration swung into action, halted the work, and deployed heavy security near the encounter site.
Encounter Day After Tiwari Pointed Gun At Cops
On June 17, the police in Bhojpur encountered Bharat Tiwari, a day after he confronted the cops and pointed his gun at them. The video of brandishing a gun went viral, and hours after, the police carried out the controversial encounter, which Tiwari's family claimed to be fake.
Following the death of Tiwari, a resident of Bilauti village in the district, protests intensified. The family demanded justice. Numerous politicians and actors visited Tiwari's home.
On June 24, a mahapanchayat was held in the village, seeking justice for Tiwari's family. At the mahapanchayat, the people decided to build a memorial for Tiwari.
What Kind Of Memorial Was To Be Built?
The memorial work had begun at the site, where the encounter took place on June 17. They started construction work for a platform at the encounter site. Some photographs linked to the construction work have emerged on social media.
Who Is Funding For The Memorial?
Family members and locals said Swami Anand Swaroop Maharaj of a monastery in Uttarakhand is bearing the entire cost of the memorial's construction. He had visited Bilauti village about a week ago to meet Tiwari's family. It is reported that in the first phase, an eight-by-eight square foot marble platform was planned to be built; after that, a white marble statue of Tiwari was to be installed there. In addition, preparations were underway to give the memorial complex an attractive look so that people could visit and pay their respects.
What Triggered The Controversy Surrounding The Memorial?
The construction of Tiwari's memorial is currently mired in controversy. Two main objections have been raised. The first came from the district administration, and the second from the owner of the private land adjacent to the encounter site.
Shahpur's Circle Officer, Anand Prakash, on behalf of the district administration, said the land on which the memorial had begun has been stopped.
Two Major Objections Emerged:
First objection: The Shahpur Circle Officer cited rules for stopping the memorial work. He said the land belongs to the Bihar government. Under the rules, no construction can be done on any government land without a No Objection Certificate (NOC).
Second objection: There is private land adjacent to the memorial site. The land owner said the memorial should be built in the middle of the road, and the road should not be extended towards his land.
What Are The Rules For Memorial Construction?
There is a prescribed administrative process for erecting a memorial. First, a proposal must be submitted to the local administration or District Magistrate, detailing the purpose, size, design, and location of the memorial.
If the land is government-owned, permission must be obtained from the Revenue Department or the relevant department. In the case of establishing a memorial on a road, intersection, or public place, a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Traffic Police or the Road Construction Department is also required.
The administration also ensures that the memorial does not disrupt traffic, public movement, or public order. The proposal also clearly states who will be responsible for the memorial's maintenance.
(With Jagran.com Inputs)