Baghel opened with a pointed query on unnatural deaths in state jails over the past year. Deputy CM Vijay Sharma revealed a stark figure: 66 prisoners lost their lives between January 31, 2025, and January 31, 2026. While 18 cases received judicial scrutiny, 48 probes remain ongoing.

Pushing further, Baghel sought victim identities and full dossiers. Sharma promised forthcoming details. The real sting came when Baghel invoked Kawardha’s Pankaj Sahu and Kanker’s Jivan Thakur. ‘Thakur was trapped in a fabricated case,’ he charged, urging disclosure of inquiry findings.

Sharma defended the actions, stating Thakur’s October 12, 2025, admission to Kanker jail followed verified facts. From October 13-17, Thakur received hospital care, accessible to relatives. Ministers like Shyam Bihari Jaiswal and Guru Khushvanta Sahib also engaged amid the uproar.

Tensions trace back to Wednesday’s disruptions, where opposition stalled the house over alleged data fudging. Baghel’s broadside highlights systemic jail concerns, from overcrowding to medical neglect, fueling a larger narrative of governance lapses.

With public welfare at stake, this session lays bare Chhattisgarh’s polarized politics. The opposition vows relentless pursuit, while the government braces for intensified scrutiny on law enforcement and prisoner rights.