Jamui: Three people have been arrested after a video showing the alleged harassment and assault of two Class 10 students in Bihar’s Jamui surfaced online, triggering widespread outrage. Police have registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The incident took place on September 19 near Madwa hillock on the Jamui-Lakhisarai road, when the teenage boy and girl, who are friends and attend the same coaching institute, were returning on a two-wheeler. Police said a group allegedly stopped them and harassed the students.
What Happened In Jamui?
According to Jamui police, the two students had gone to the area to take photographs. While returning at around 7 pm, they were allegedly intercepted by a group of local youths.
A video that later surfaced on social media purportedly shows the teenagers being surrounded and the boy being assaulted. The footage also shows the girl being subjected to harassment before the two eventually leave the spot.
Police said the incident was not reported immediately by the teenagers or their families. The case came to light after the video appeared online on September 21.
Jamui Police Form SIT, Identify Suspects
Jamui Superintendent of Police Bishwajeet Dayal said police traced the teenagers using the registration number of a vehicle visible in the video.
An SIT headed by Sub-Divisional Police Officer Deepti Monali has been formed to investigate the case. Police said around seven alleged perpetrators have been identified from the footage and three have been arrested, while raids are underway to trace the remaining suspects.
Police have also initiated steps to remove the video from social media platforms. Authorities have urged people not to circulate footage that could identify the minor victims.
Women’s Commission Seeks Report
Bihar State Women’s Commission chairperson Apsara Mishra said the commission has sought a detailed report from the district administration.
The incident occurred near the Jamui-Lakhisarai border area and has prompted further scrutiny of the circumstances surrounding the incident and the police response.
Rahul Gandhi, Opposition React To Jamui Incident
The case has also triggered a political controversy in Bihar. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi described the incident as “deeply disturbing” and called for those responsible to face prosecution under POCSO.
Other opposition parties, including the RJD, AAP and Trinamool Congress, also criticised the Bihar government and raised questions over the safety of women and girls.
JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh, however, defended the state’s law-and-order situation, saying an individual incident should not be used to judge the overall situation in the state.
The investigation remains underway as police teams continue raids to arrest the remaining suspects.
