Cinema VinesIn a sharp rebuttal to a statement from BJP MLA Maithili Thakur, Bihar‑born writer and lyricist Neeraj Pandey released an open letter on social media, challenging the MLA’s claim that the state’s law and order are safe for all. The letter, posted as a carousel on Instagram, directly addressed Thakur’s remarks following a disturbing incident in Jamui where two teenage students were harassed and assaulted by a group of men.
Neeraj, who hails from Buxar and has worked on films such as Mrs, Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi and Happy Patel, wrote that “there isn’t one Bihar for everyone.” He added that his own experiences growing up in the state were far from safe, noting that “even with my privileges as a man, my physical boundaries were invaded many times.” The writer urged that the reality of safety in Bihar should be measured by those who have lived it, not by politicians who claim comfort.
He specifically referenced the Jamui incident, which occurred on September 19, when a group of men stopped two Class X students returning from a local tourist spot, made vulgar comments, slapped the boy, and sexually assaulted the girl. Neeraj called on people to ask the victim herself and to recognize that Jamui is not an isolated case but part of a broader pattern of trauma in the state. He hinted that he might one day compile these experiences into a book.
Maithili Thakur, the MLA for Alinagar, had defended the state’s safety by saying, “I am a daughter of Bihar, and I feel safe in Bihar.” Her statement was met with nationwide outrage, prompting the Bihar police to form a Special Investigation Team led by Sub‑Divisional Police Officer Deepti Monali to track down the suspects involved in the Jamui assault. The incident and the subsequent political responses have highlighted the stark divide between official narratives and lived realities in Bihar.
