The Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly witnessed uproar on Thursday after the government informed the House that 66 inmates had died in the state’s central and district jails over the past 13 months, prompting the Congress to demand a House committee probe into the death of a tribal leader in judicial custody. Opposition MLAs raised slogans and later staged a walkout.
During Question Hour, former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel sought details from the BJP government on custodial deaths recorded between January 2025 and January 31, 2026. He also asked whether judicial inquiries had been completed in all such cases in accordance with National Human Rights Commission guidelines.
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, who holds the Home portfolio, told the House that 66 inmates, including convicts, had died during the 13-month period ending January 31, 2026.
He said judicial magistrate inquiries, mandatory in custodial deaths, had been completed in 18 cases, while proceedings were underway in the remaining instances.
Baghel also raised the case of tribal leader Jeevan Thakur, who died on December 4, 2025, after falling ill in judicial custody.
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Sharma informed the House that Thakur was initially lodged in a jail in Kanker district and later shifted to Raipur following a court order. After his condition deteriorated, he was admitted to the district hospital and subsequently referred to the state-run Dr BR Ambedkar Memorial Hospital, where he died during treatment.
As per procedure, the jail superintendent informed the District Judge, after which a committee was constituted to conduct an inquiry, Sharma said.
Baghel alleged that Thakur, whom he described as a tribal leader implicated in a false case, did not receive timely medication despite being diabetic. He further claimed that the jail superintendent ignored doctors’ advice and denied him proper medical care.
Citing protests by tribal community members across Bastar demanding a probe, Baghel pressed for action and insisted that a magisterial inquiry would not suffice. He demanded that a committee of the Assembly investigate the matter.
Sharma, without directly responding to the demand for a House panel probe, said the judicial inquiry process should be allowed to conclude first.
As Congress MLAs continued sloganeering, the Speaker attempted to restore order. Expressing dissatisfaction with the government’s response, Opposition members walked out of the House.
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