Mumbai: The alleged harassment and sexual assault of a minor girl in Jamui, Bihar, has sparked a debate over moral policing, with actor Ayesha Khan calling out the focus on the girl’s clothing and behaviour.
Reacting to the incident, Ayesha described the discourse as “pathetic” and “beyond disgusting”, questioning why the girl was being subjected to scrutiny instead of the alleged perpetrators being held accountable.
Sharing her reaction on Instagram Stories, Ayesha wrote, “I genuinely feel sick watching what happened in Bihar. Imagine being surrounded, terrified and humiliated while people stand around watching and recording you. Stop calling this morality. Stop hiding harassment behind ‘culture’. This is pathetic and beyond disgusting.”
In another Instagram Story, the actor criticised attempts to justify moral policing, questioning the focus on the girl’s behaviour and appearance.
She wrote, “Who asked for your solution? Who asked for moral policing? Who gave you the right? I can’t believe some people are saying that the way of moral policing could have done in a better manner. Who are you? Who asked you? What is even more scary is everyone around is recording and they thought it is okay to post this? So no fear? No realisation? No morals? Oh so these people need moral policing do they? Everyone but the monster is the problem, then what is the permanent solution?”
Ayesha’s reaction followed remarks by BJP Jamui MLA Shreyasi Singh, who reportedly said that moral policing could be carried out in a more “decent” and “elegant” manner, while calling the “mistreatment and mishandling” of the boy and girl unacceptable.
The incident reportedly took place on September 19, when two Class 10 friends stopped near Madwa hillock on the Jamui-Lakhisarai road to take photographs.
While returning around 7 pm, they were allegedly intercepted by local youths who claimed to be carrying out “moral policing”.
The group allegedly abused and assaulted the boy, sexually assaulted the girl, filmed the incident and threatened to post the video online if the two reported it.
The alleged main accused, Nandan Yadav, was shot in the leg by police and arrested along with another accused in the case, HT reported earlier.
The arrests followed the formation of a special investigation team (SIT), with three other people having been arrested previously.