Patna, June 18: Tension gripped Bilauti village in Bihar’s Bhojpur district on Thursday after the death of Bharat Bhushan Tiwari, who succumbed to injuries sustained during a police encounter a day earlier.

The incident has triggered widespread protests, with family members and villagers alleging that the police used excessive force and demanding an impartial investigation.

Bharat Bhushan Tiwari was injured during an encounter on Wednesday when a joint team of the Shahpur police and the Special Task Force (STF) attempted to arrest him following reports that he had been brandishing a firearm and allegedly firing at police personnel.

He was initially taken to Shahpur Referral Hospital before being referred to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), where he later died during treatment.

However, the deceased’s family has strongly disputed the police version of events.

Speaking amid the protests, Bharat Bhushan’s mother questioned the circumstances of the encounter and accused the police of shooting her son despite his surrender.

“My son was dedicated to social welfare. He had surrendered, yet the police shot him. Why was he shot after surrendering?” she asked.

She further claimed that her son had been influenced by others and was not the owner of any licensed firearm.

“He had a hot temper, but someone from the village gave him the pistol and misled him. He surrendered, yet they fired five shots at him,” she alleged.

The grieving mother also described her son as someone who frequently helped people in the village and said the family was struggling to understand why such action was taken against him.

Anger over the incident spilled onto the streets as hundreds of villagers gathered near Bilauti village and blocked the Ara-Buxar four-lane highway.

Protesters placed the deceased’s body on the road and raised slogans against the police administration.

Witnesses estimated that between 1,000 and 1,500 people participated in the demonstration, causing major traffic disruptions and long queues of vehicles on both sides of the highway.

Villagers alleged that the encounter was staged and questioned the legality of the police action.

“There is no provision for killing a person who is surrendering. If someone wants to surrender in a case, can the police shoot him dead? An impartial inquiry must be conducted,” one protester said.

Another villager claimed that Bharat Bhushan had no criminal background and was known locally for social work.

The controversy comes days after a video allegedly showing Bharat Bhushan Tiwari brandishing a firearm went viral on social media.

According to police, officers initially visited his residence to investigate the video, during which he allegedly threatened personnel with a pistol.

Police stated that when officers returned with STF support to arrest him on Wednesday morning, he opened fire on the team, forcing them to retaliate in self-defence.

The encounter resulted in multiple gunshot injuries to Tiwari.

The incident has already led to departmental action. Following the circulation of videos from the operation, Shahabad Range DIG Dr Satyaprakash ordered the suspension of the Shahpur Station House Officer (SHO), along with a sub-inspector and a constable, citing alleged negligence and lapses in handling the situation.

Following Thursday’s protests, additional police personnel were deployed in the area to maintain law and order.

Mumbai: In a major crackdown on organised international drug trafficking networks, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Mumbai Zonal Unit has successfully executed a restraining order against habitual drug trafficker Naveen Gurunath Chachakar under the provisions of the Prevention of Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

The detention order was issued on May 15 by the Joint Secretary, PIT-NDPS Division, Department of Revenue, Government of India, and was implemented on June 16. As per the order, the detainee was shifted from Yerwada Central Jail, Pune, Maharashtra, to Pujhal Central Jail, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Naveen Gurunath Chachakar is a habitual drug offender who has been repeatedly involved in smuggling of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances including cocaine, hydroponic ganja, cannabis gummies and LSD. He has been arrested on four occasions by various law enforcement agencies including the NCB and Navi Mumbai Police in connection with drug trafficking offences.

In 2021, after being implicated in an NCB Mumbai case involving commercial quantities of ganja and LSD, Chachakar fled India and subsequently established links with international drug suppliers, operating from several foreign jurisdictions including Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, UAE and the Republic of Vanuatu. Investigations have revealed that he continued to organise drug trafficking activities targeting India through international criminal networks.

In January 2025, a major seizure investigation by the NCB Mumbai led to the recovery of 11.540 kg of cocaine, along with hydroponic ganja and cannabis tablets. Investigations have shown that Chachakar, who was operating from Thailand, masterminded the purchase and supply of cocaine seized from the US. His involvement also came to light in another NCB case, which was investigated by Navi Mumbai Police in connection with the seizure of cocaine and the smuggling of hydroponic ganja in January 2025. Following the NCB’s request, an Interpol Red Notice was issued, following which Chachkar was extradited from Malaysia to India in May 2025 and arrested by NCB Mumbai.

Naveen Gurunath Chachkar was likely to indulge in drug trafficking again, posing a continuing threat to social/public order and was likely to commit further offences against the law. Therefore, it was necessary to intervene through preventive detention to ensure that he does not continue his illegal drug trafficking activities and to protect society from the threat posed by his continued criminal conduct.

The financial investigation conducted by the NCB resulted in the freezing of movable and immovable assets worth over Rs. 10 crore, suspected to have been acquired through drug trafficking. The action was later confirmed under the provisions of SAFEMA.

Recognizing his continued involvement in illegal drug trafficking and the seriousness of the threat posed to society by his activities, action was initiated under the PIT-NDPS Act. The present detention highlights the important role of the PIT-NDPS Act, 1988, as a deterrent legal mechanism designed to disable habitual and organised drug traffickers who continue to indulge in illegal trafficking activities despite repeated arrests and criminal legal proceedings. Unlike ordinary criminal proceedings, preventive detention under the PIT-NDPS Act serves as an effective means of disrupting and neutralising drug trafficking networks by preventing key criminals from continuing their illegal activities and influencing criminal groups.

This action reflects the NCB’s determination to leverage all available legal provisions including preventive detention, financial investigation and international cooperation to dismantle organised drug syndicates and save society from the menace of drugs. It also reinforces the unwavering commitment of the Government of India to fulfil the vision of “Nisha Mukt Bharat @ 2047”.

Citizens are encouraged to share information related to drug trafficking through MANAS (National Narcotics Helpline) – toll-free number 1933. The identity of informants is kept strictly confidential.

Ahmedabad, June 18: A 17-year-old NEET aspirant died after falling from the sixth floor of a residential apartment building in Ahmedabad’s New Ranip area, just three days before the nationwide NEET-UG retest scheduled for June 21.

According to Sabarmati Police, the teenager, a student preparing for the medical entrance examination, fell from the balcony area of a flat in Aristo Anandam Apartments.

Police received information about the incident at around 4.30 a.m. on Thursday and reached the scene to begin an investigation.

An accidental death case has been registered under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita pending further inquiry.

The body was sent for post-mortem examination, and an inquiry was conducted to establish the exact cause of death.

Sabarmati Police Inspector Yuvrajsinh Vaghela said the incident occurred during the night.

“The incident occurred around 2-3 a.m. We received the information around 4.30 a.m. No suicide note has been recovered as of now. The cause cannot be ascertained at present, including whether the student was under stress. Investigation is going on,” he told Media.

Police said they are examining the circumstances surrounding the death and are speaking with family members, friends and others known to the student.

No official conclusion has been drawn regarding the reason behind the incident.

The death comes days before the rescheduled National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate), one of India’s largest competitive examinations for admission to medical courses.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) announced the retest after cancelling the original NEET-UG 2026 examination conducted on May 3 following allegations of a paper leak and other irregularities.

The re-examination was approved by the Central government after concerns were raised about the integrity of the test process.

More than 22 lakh candidates were affected by the cancellation, which triggered widespread uncertainty among students and parents across the country.

The NTA has said additional security measures have been introduced for the retest, while the Supreme Court has been informed that strengthened safeguards are in place to protect the integrity of the examination.

In recent days, authorities have intensified preparations for the June 21 examination.

The Indian Air Force has assisted in transporting question papers to multiple locations across the country. The NTA has launched training programmes for examination staff and issued advisories warning students against misinformation and fake paper leak claims circulating online.

Police have not linked the student’s death to the examination, and investigators said the cause of the incident remains under investigation.