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Jamui Minor Harassment Case: Three individuals were arrested, and a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was registered following the disturbing video, which showed two minors being publicly harassed and humiliated in Bihar’s Jamui district.
The incident occurred as the duo was returning home from a coaching class on September 19. The video sparked widespread outrage online, with social media users demanding strict legal action against the accused.
How Did The Incident Unfold?
The incident occurred on September 19 at approximately 7:00 PM. After finishing their coaching classes, the two minors went for a photo session and were travelling on a scooter when a group of men intercepted them, Jagran.com reported.
The men confronted the minors in an isolated area, harassing, humiliating, and verbally abusing them. The situation escalated when one of the individuals grabbed the girl from behind and forcefully dragged her away, inappropriately touching her as captured in the video.
The video shows the girl pleading with folded hands, saying, "Hum bacche hain, humein jaane do" ("We are minors, please let us go"). Despite her pleas, the group continued to harass and humiliate the duo.
What action did the police take?
Jamui Superintendent of Police Vishwajeet Dayal said the incident was unfortunate and that the police would launch an awareness campaign to prevent such incidents from recurring.
"Although the incident is two days old, no complaint was made before us by the boy or the girl till Sunday. Today, when the video went viral, we traced the victims. We must keep some information private", said SP Dayal.
The police took suo motu cognisance of the matter on the instructions of District Magistrate Naveen, contacted the victims and registered an FIR. DM Naveen contacted the victims and recorded their statements. An official FIR has subsequently been registered at the Sadar police station under the POCSO Act and relevant non-bailable sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita (BNS).
How did the Women’s Commission react?
The State Women's Commission has taken a tough stand after a video of a student being harassed and molested went viral. Commission Chairperson Apsara, after receiving information from the Jamui District Magistrate, demanded strict action against the accused. She stated that such incidents are intolerable and none of the miscreants will face action.
‘This is not culture,' says Rahul Gandhi
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi reacted to the incident, calling it “deeply disturbing.” Sharing a hard-hitting post on X, Gandhi said, “Who gave these men the right to behave like this? This is not "culture". It is patriarchy: the belief that any man can police a girl's body, her movement, her choices. When control is mistaken for culture, and such attitudes are normalised by Andhbhakts, mobs start believing they are the law.”
JDU spokesperson Naval Sharma sternly stated that law prevails in Bihar and that Taliban-like rule or "mob justice" will not be tolerated in the streets. He added that the police will strictly deal with those who take the law into their own hands and compromise the safety of daughters.