Minor girl, friend harassed in Bihar's Jamui; viral video triggers outrage and political row

Jamui: Bihar was on the boil on Monday over a viral video showing a boy and a girl allegedly being harassed by a group of people on a roadside in Jamui district two days ago, even as police said three of the alleged perpetrators had been arrested.

State Women’s Commission Chairperson Apsara Mishra said a detailed report had been sought from the district administration on the incident, which has triggered criticism of the BJP-led government over the safety of women and girls.

The police in Jamui district has arrested three people while a search was on for others allegedly involved in the harassment of a boy and a girl by the roadside, a video of which has triggered outrage on social media.

Earlier, Jamui SP Bishwajeet Dayal had told reporters that the incident took place on September 19 evening and a Special Investigation Team, headed by a woman officer, was conducting raids to arrest all the culprits.

"Although the incident is two days old, no complaint was made before us by the boy or the girl till Sunday. Today, when the video went viral, we traced the victims with the help of the registration number of a vehicle visible in the clip", the SP told reporters.

"An SIT headed by Sub-Divisional Police Officer Deepti Monali has been set up. The accused have not been named by the victims in the FIR lodged at Jamui police station, but we have identified around seven perpetrators with the help of the clip. Three persons have been arrested, and raids are being conducted to nab the others," Dayal said.

The FIR has been lodged under the POCSO Act and relevant sections of the BNS, and steps have been initiated for the 'takedown of the video', the SP said. He said the boy and girl were friends and attended the same coaching institute.

The video, which purportedly shows the two being harassed by a group of people, has drawn criticism on social media as well as from political leaders.

Reacting to the incident, the state Women's Commission Chairperson told PTI Videos, "We have spoken to the Jamui DM, who told us that the incident took place near the district's border with adjoining Lakhisarai. He also said all the accused have been identified. He has promised to keep us informed about the action taken in this regard".

Meanwhile, the episode triggered a political slugfest, with criticisms coming from several opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi.

Gandhi, who is Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, came out with an angry post on X, describing the incident as 'deeply disturbing'.

"This is not culture, it is patriarchy," the Congress leader said, alleging that 'andhbhakts' were responsible for such attitudes being 'normalised'.

The Rae Bareli MP demanded that the persons identified in the video be 'prosecuted under POCSO' and asked the BJP-led government in the state 'why a girl is not safe on a public road'.

The Aam Aadmi Party also shared the video clip on its X handle, reminding Prime Minister Narendra Modi of his 'beti bachao' slogan and alleging 'in your BJP-ruled state of Bihar, a daughter's dignity is being torn to shreds'.

RJD working president Tejashwi Yadav, who is the Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, blamed the incident on Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary without naming him and referred to him as 'nausikhiya' (inept).

Yadav also held Modi 'solely responsible' for the 'anarchy in Bihar', and alleged that JD(U) president Nitish Kumar, the former chief minister, was 'made to pack his bags within four months of getting a fresh mandate by offering doles to the state's women'.

The Trinamool Congress also condemned the incident.

"What gives anyone the right to put their hands on a woman's body, without her consent? Who gave these hooligans the authority to moral-police a young woman and a young man, humiliate them and violate their dignity?", the party said in a post on X. "The Jamui incident is deeply disturbing. The trauma inflicted on that young woman - and on the young man who was subjected to such humiliation - will not disappear anytime soon. Every person responsible in the incident must face due process and the strongest punishment permitted by law, without delay or political interference," it said.

Meanwhile, Union minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh defended the law-and-order situation in Bihar, saying it was 'totally secure' and that women were free to step out at any time. Singh, who is also the Janata Dal (United) national president, said the state’s law and order situation cannot be judged based on a single incident.