Sameer Thakur, 21, still hasn’t come to terms with the events leading up to the death of his father Jeevan Thakur on December 4, 2025. His death — one of the 66 custodial deaths in Chhattisgarh’s prisons between January 2025 and January 2026 — had since prompted street protests across the Bastar area, where Kanker is located. Neeraj later told the media that his father’s death and the treatment he himself had received in prison had caused him tremendous stress. Assembly answersOn February 26, Question Hour in Chhattisgarh’s Assembly began with the question of custodial deaths. Sharma said Jeevan had been transferred to Raipur Jail by court order due to his “behaviour and other issues”.

Source: The Hindu March 08, 2026 21:52 UTC