Political prisoner alleges torture, rights violations in Buxar Central Jail

By A Representative

The Campaign Against State Repression (CASR), a collective of civil society and rights organizations, has issued a statement highlighting allegations of serious human rights violations inside Buxar Central Jail, Bihar. These claims are based on a 17-page handwritten letter sent by Vijay Kumar Arya, an undertrial prisoner currently lodged in Buxar Jail.

Arya, who was arrested in 2022 on charges related to alleged membership in the banned CPI (Maoist), has alleged instances of physical and mental torture, denial of basic facilities, and violation of prison rules. The letter describes alleged systemic issues within the prison, including poor food quality, denial of medical care, and the absence of basic amenities.

According to Arya, the alleged ill-treatment began after a hunger strike was launched by inmates at Beur Jail on 29 September 2024. The protest, he claims, was against irregularities in the food served and treatment of prisoners. Following this, Arya and another accused, Promod Mishra, were transferred to Buxar and Bhagalpur jails, respectively.

Arya alleges that on his arrival at Buxar Central Jail, he was physically assaulted with batons, subjected to forced physical exercises, and denied access to pain relief or medical care. He further claims that his personal items, including educational materials and basic utensils, were taken away or discarded. He also alleges that other prisoners faced similar treatment, including forms of punishment referred to as "Sridevi style" beatings.

In one instance noted in the letter, Arya alleges that a prisoner who led a food boycott on 15 September 2024 was subjected to beatings and verbal abuse. When one prisoner attempted suicide, Arya claims the individual was again beaten.

The letter also raises concerns about the denial of access to writing materials, overcharging for food and hygiene items, and what Arya alleges is a pattern of administrative transfers being used as a punitive measure.

CASR, in its statement, has called for an independent inquiry into the allegations and expressed concern for Arya’s safety following the disclosure. The organization has urged other civil rights groups to take note of the situation and seek accountability from the concerned authorities.

As of now, jail or state officials have not issued a public response to the allegations.

Neville Cardus: The man who turned cricket writing into poetry

By Harsh Thakor* Neville Cardus was one of the most remarkable literary figures of the twentieth century. A prolific English writer and critic, he achieved distinction in two vastly different fields: cricket and classical music. Entirely self-taught, Cardus rose from humble beginnings to become both the cricket correspondent and chief music critic of The Manchester Guardian . His achievements in these contrasting disciplines earned him widespread acclaim and established him as one of the foremost critics of his generation. In February 2025, the cricketing and literary world marked the fiftieth anniversary of his death, which occurred in February 1975.

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