Writer-lyricist Neeraj Pandey, who is from Bihar, has responded to earlier remarks by Bihar MLA Maithili Thakur about safety in the state, saying that her personal experience cannot represent the experiences of everyone who has lived there.
Pandey’s comments came after an older video of Thakur resurfaced on social media following the reported Jamui incident involving a minor girl. In the video, Thakur had spoken positively about her own experience of safety in Bihar.
Pandey addressed the issue in a post shared on Instagram, while also describing his own experiences growing up in the state.
Neeraj Pandey Says ‘Not Everyone’s Bihar Is the Same’
Sharing a carousel on Instagram, Pandey responded directly to Thakur’s earlier statement that she felt safe in Bihar.
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Add Hunterfly on Google“Good for you. Par sabka Bihar ek hi Bihar nahi hai (There isn’t one Bihar for everyone). Not everyone who grew up there got to say that.”
Pandey, who is from Buxar, Bihar, said that he personally did not feel safe while growing up in the state.
He wrote that despite the social privileges he experienced as a man, his physical boundaries were allegedly violated on multiple occasions.
“I am from Bihar. And I never felt safe growing up there. With all my privileges of even being a man, my physical boundaries were invaded many times. Your comfort doesn’t speak for everyone.”
Pandey argued that assessments of safety should also consider the experiences of people directly affected by incidents of violence or harassment.
Pandey Refers to the Jamui Case
In his post, Pandey specifically referred to the girl involved in the reported Jamui incident and said her experience should be considered when discussing safety.
“Ask the girl who faced the unfortunate incident. And mind you that Jamui is not just one stand-alone incident. Ask any girl, I would say.”
He also reflected on the complicated relationship people can have with their place of origin, writing that a homeland can be both a place of belonging and a place associated with traumatic experiences.
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Add Hunterfly on GooglePandey suggested that he may eventually document his own experiences in greater detail.
“A home is supposed to be a safe space so does a homeland. I’ll write about it.”
The Viral Video Predates the Jamui Incident
An important piece of context is that the video featuring Thakur was not originally recorded in response to the Jamui incident.
According to the material supplied for this report, fact-checks established that the footage dates back to April 2026, when Thakur was responding to comments by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee concerning women’s safety in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
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Add Hunterfly on GoogleDuring that earlier interaction, Thakur said:
“It doesn’t matter what Didi says. I myself come from Bihar. I am the daughter of Bihar and we are very safe.”
The video resurfaced online months later following the Jamui incident, which resulted in renewed discussion about the earlier remarks.
This distinction is important because the original statement predates the incident now being discussed alongside it on social media.
Maithili Thakur Later Condemned the Jamui Incident
Thakur has separately commented on the reported incident in Jamui.
On September 22, according to the supplied material, she described the incident involving the minor girl as “extremely condemnable, shameful and heart-wrenching.”
She also stressed the importance of teaching boys that touching, stopping or mistreating a girl without her consent is a crime.
Her later comments came separately from the older video that resurfaced online.
What Happened in Jamui?
According to the account provided, the incident occurred on the evening of September 19, when a Class 10 girl and a boy who were friends and attended the same coaching institute were travelling on a scooter after visiting a nearby location.
A group of men allegedly stopped the teenagers, abused and assaulted them and prevented them from leaving.
A video of the incident was subsequently circulated online and reportedly showed the two minors surrounded by a group of people.
Police formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to identify those allegedly involved. The supplied report states that the main accused, identified as Nandan Yadav, was later arrested after being injured in a police encounter.
Authorities were also investigating the circulation of the video.
Police Warn Against Sharing a Minor Victim’s Identity
The circulation of footage from the incident has raised a separate legal concern because it reportedly contains material that could identify a minor victim.
Police have warned against sharing or circulating material that reveals the identity of a minor involved in such a case.
The issue has also renewed public discussion around women’s safety, alleged moral policing, victim protection and the responsibilities of people sharing sensitive footage online.
Neeraj Pandey Says He May Document His Experiences
Pandey’s comments extend beyond the immediate political controversy surrounding the resurfaced video.
By describing his own experiences growing up in Bihar, he sought to make the broader point that perceptions of safety can differ substantially from one person to another.
His remarks about eventually writing about what happened to him also suggest that he may document those experiences in a longer form in the future.
For now, the discussion involves two distinct elements: Thakur’s older comments about her personal experience of safety in Bihar, and Pandey’s subsequent criticism and account of his own experiences, alongside the renewed public attention surrounding the Jamui case.
Final Context
The controversy illustrates why the timing and original context of resurfaced social-media videos matter. Thakur’s widely circulated statement about feeling safe in Bihar was made months before the reported Jamui incident, while her later public comments condemned that incident.
Pandey’s response represents his personal account and criticism of the broader idea that one person’s experience can represent everyone else’s. The reported Jamui case remains a separate matter involving allegations under investigation by authorities.
