Representative image. | Photo credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Opposition members on Thursday (February 26, 2026) created an uproar in the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly over the recent death of a tribal leader in custody after the state government informed the House that 66 inmates died in state jails between January 2025 and January 31 this year.
During question hour, former chief minister and senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel raised a question regarding the number of custodial deaths in state jails in the last 13 months. He also asked whether the judicial investigations in all these cases were completed in accordance with the guidelines of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma replied that 66 prisoners, including convicts, died in central and district jails across the state during the 13 months ending January 31, 2026. Out of these, investigations by judicial magistrates, which are mandatory in custodial deaths, have been completed in 18 deaths and the process is underway in other cases, he added in his reply.
Subsequently, Mr. Baghel raised the issue of tribal leader Jeevan Thakur, who died on December 4 last year after falling ill in judicial custody, and sought details of the case.
Mr. Sharma told the House that Thakur was initially lodged in a jail in Kanker district and later shifted to a jail in the state capital Raipur on a court order. After his health deteriorated, Thakur was admitted to the Raipur District Hospital and later to the Dr. BR Ambedkar Memorial Hospital in Ranchi where he died during treatment, he added.
A committee has been constituted to conduct an inquiry into the death as per procedure, Mr Sharma said. Opposition MLAs, including Mr. Baghel and Savitri Manoj Mandavi, questioned the circumstances surrounding his death and alleged that he was implicated in a false case.
Thakur, Mr. Baghel alleged, was a diabetic and was not given timely medication in jail and there were complaints that the jail superintendent ignored doctors’ advice and denied him proper medical care.
He also requested that a parliamentary committee investigate the matter.
The Deputy CM then said that he should first let the judicial inquiry process be completed. As the Congress MLAs stood up and raised slogans against the government, the Speaker tried to restore order in the House. However, the opposition MPs left the Chamber.
Published – 26 Feb 2026 20:43 IST
