India
oi-Madhuri Adnal
The Bihar State Commission for Women has stepped in after videos showing the alleged harassment of two minor students in Jamui surfaced on social media.
The commission has written to Jamui SP Bishwajit Dayal, seeking immediate action against those involved and a detailed report on the case.
Following videos of alleged harassment against two Class 10 students in Jamui, Bihar, on September 19, the State Commission for Women has sought details from the Jamui SP. Three suspects are arrested, seven identified, and an FIR registered after police located the students.
Three suspects have been taken into custody so far. The incident reportedly took place on the evening of September 19, but came to light after videos of the incident began circulating on social media on Monday.
Police took suo motu cognisance of the videos and started looking for the two students. They were later traced, their statements were recorded and an FIR was registered.
Jamui District Magistrate Naveen said the incident took place within the limits of Jamui Sadar police station. He said the police had not received a complaint when the incident occurred and began investigating after the videos emerged online.
“The accused have been identified and action is being taken against them,” the District Magistrate said, adding that police teams were looking for the other accused.
Jamui SP Bishwajit Dayal said the videos appeared to show two minors being harassed. He said the students were Class 10 students from Jamui town.
According to the preliminary investigation, the two had gone to Madwa hillock on a motorbike after attending coaching classes. They had reportedly gone there to take photographs.
While they were returning, a group of youths allegedly stopped them on the road. The students were then allegedly harassed for some time. The incident was recorded on a mobile phone, and the two were allegedly threatened that the video would be shared on social media.
The videos circulating online purportedly show several men surrounding the girl and allegedly subjecting her to harassment.
The State Commission for Women has now sought details of the investigation from the Jamui SP and asked the police to take action against those responsible.
The incident has also put the spotlight on Jamui MP Arun Bharti, whose constituency includes the area where the alleged incident took place. Bharti has not yet publicly commented on the case.
The case took a political turn after Bihar JDU president Umesh Kushwaha referred to such incidents as “sporadic” while defending the state government’s response.
“If sporadic incidents happen, we are sensitive to them,” Kushwaha said. He compared the situation with Bihar before 2005 and argued that the administration today takes action when crimes are reported.
“Today, at least when an incident happens, the administration is taking action,” he said, adding that those responsible for the Jamui incident would be taken into custody.
His remarks gave the opposition fresh ammunition. RJD spokesperson Shakti Yadav accused the Bihar government and police administration of failing to ensure the safety of women and minors and questioned their handling of the case.
