Patna: Police have arrested three suspects in connection with the molestation and assault of two minor students in Bihar’s Jamui district after graphic videos of the incident went viral on Monday, triggering public outrage and the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT).
The incident, which occurred on the evening of September 19, has reignited debate over the safety of young people on the state’s roads and drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders.
The victims — two Class 10 students, a 15-year-old boy and girl, both residents of Jamui town — were returning on a motorbike after attending coaching classes when a group of youths intercepted them near Madwa hillock under Jamui Sadar police station limits. According to Jamui Superintendent of Police Bishwajit Dayal, the pair had gone to the spot to take photographs after their classes ended.
Footage circulating on social media shows six to seven men surrounding the teenagers, questioning whether their families knew about their relationship, slapping the boy, and subjecting the girl to molestation. In one clip, a man lifts the girl inappropriately while the boy attempts to intervene. In another, the boy is dragged by his collar. The victims were reportedly threatened that the video would be uploaded online, s reported by The New Indian Express.
Although the assault occurred on Saturday, no complaint was lodged until the videos began spreading widely on Monday. Police used the vehicle’s registration number visible in the footage to trace and identify the victims, subsequently recording their statements and registering an FIR against unknown persons.
An SIT headed by Sub-Divisional Police Officer Deepti Monali has been constituted to identify and apprehend all those involved. While the victims did not name any accused in the FIR, investigators have identified around seven perpetrators from the video. Three minors have been arrested, and raids are underway to track down the remaining suspects, including the individual seen behaving indecently with the girl.
Case Registered Under POSCO
The case has been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including provisions for assault on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty and use of criminal force. Authorities have also initiated steps to have the video removed from social media platforms.
State Women’s Commission Chairperson Apsara Mishra has sought a detailed report from the district administration.
All Three Arrested Are Minors
According to police, two of those arrested are aged between 17 and 18, while one report from Jamui Police indicates the three are aged 14, 16 and 17. Names and other details have not been disclosed publicly, in line with legal protections for juveniles under the Juvenile Justice Act, as reported by India Today.
Rahul, Kharge Attack BJP Over Women’s Safety
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi called the Jamui video “very disturbing”, saying a Class 10 boy and girl were forcibly stopped, harassed and humiliated on the road. “This is not culture; this is patriarchy. The Bihar government must answer why a girl is not safe on the state’s roads at 7 pm,” he said.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, posting on X, linked the Jamui harassment to the recent gang-rape and murder of a 17-year-old in Delhi, accusing the BJP of hypocrisy over its “Nari Shakti Vandan” and “Beti Bachao” slogans. “Our demand is clear: harshest punishment for the culprits and accountability from the state governments,” he said.
