India
oi-Swastika Sruti
The alleged sexual harassment of a minor girl of class 10 and her friend in Bihar’s Jamui has triggered a political controversy after JD(U) state president Umesh Singh Kushwaha described such incidents as “chitput” (small case) while defending the state government’s response.
JDU president Umesh Singh Kushwaha ignited controversy by calling a sexual harassment incident involving a minor in Jamui, Bihar, a “chitput” case, even as police arrested three people and filed a POCSO FIR.
Kushwaha said the government and administration were taking the matter seriously and assured that those responsible would be arrested. His remarks, however, have drawn criticism from the Opposition, which has questioned whether an incident involving a minor should be described in such terms.
Kushwaha Defends Government’s Response
Speaking about the Jamui case, Kushwaha said the government was “sensitive” to such incidents and that the administration was already acting.
He also compared the present situation with Bihar before 2005, referring to the law-and-order record of the earlier RJD-led government.
His argument was that while crimes can occur, the current administration was taking action when incidents were reported.
#WATCH | Patna, Bihar: On a viral video from Jamui showing a boy being assaulted and a girl being groped, JD(U) State President Umesh Singh Kushwaha says, “Govt is sensitive to any incident that occurs. Govt and Administration are looking into it. Recall the RJD rule, the time… pic.twitter.com/SGfhHNZT3x
— ANI (@ANI) September 21, 2026
“Before 2005, people could not even step out of their homes. At least today, when an incident takes place, the administration is taking action.”
The comments came after a video of the alleged incident surfaced on social media, showing a minor girl and her male friend being allegedly harassed by a group. Police have since registered a case and initiated an investigation.
Why The ‘Isolated Incident’ Remark Has Triggered Anger
The controversy is not simply about the arrests. It is also about the language used to describe the incident. For a minor who was allegedly subjected to harassment, calling the episode an “isolated incident” can be seen by critics as reducing the seriousness of what happened. The Opposition has seized on the remark to question the government’s sensitivity towards crimes against women and children.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has sharply criticised the statement, arguing that the focus should be on the safety of women and girls rather than comparisons with the period before 2005.
From an editorial perspective, the key concern is not whether every crime can be prevented, but whether the language used by political leaders adequately reflects the seriousness of an alleged crime involving a minor. Calling such an incident sporadic may be intended to highlight that the government is acting against individual offenders, but it can also be perceived as minimising the experience of the alleged victim.
Police Have Taken Action In Jamui
Jamui Police have said that three people have been arrested, while those allegedly involved are being identified and traced.
Police have also formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the incident. An FIR has been registered under the POCSO Act and other relevant provisions, while steps have been initiated to remove the video from social media platforms.
The investigation will now establish the exact sequence of events, identify all those involved and determine their individual roles.
The Bigger Question: Can Politics Wait?
The political debate over Bihar’s law and order is likely to continue, with the ruling alliance pointing to arrests and police action and the Opposition questioning the broader record on women’s safety.
But the Jamui case involves a minor, making the immediate priority the victim’s privacy, safety and access to justice.
Political comparisons with the pre-2005 period may form part of the larger Bihar debate, but they do not answer the central question raised by the case: was the alleged victim protected, were the perpetrators swiftly identified, and will the investigation lead to accountability?
