Three minors have been arrested in connection with the harassment and molestation of two Class 10 students in Bihar’s Jamui, whose ordeal was captured on video and later circulated widely on social media. Senior police officer KS Anupam said on Monday that an FIR has been registered at Jamui police station under relevant Sections of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), along with the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Two of those arrested are aged between 17 and 18, the officer said. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has also been formed to investigate the case under the supervision of the Jamui Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO).

WHAT HAPPENED IN JAMUI

The two Class 10 students, a boy and a girl, had gone to the popular Madwa Pahad area after attending their coaching class on Saturday evening. While returning on a scooter, they were allegedly stopped by a group of men around 6.25 pm to 6.30 pm in a hilly area around three kilometres from the Jamui-Lakhisarai main road.

The group allegedly abused the two minors, forced them off the scooter and assaulted them. When the students tried to escape, the men chased them.

A video of the incident, recorded by one of the members of the group, later surfaced on social media. It shows a man grabbing the boy by his shirt collar and attempting to pull him towards himself. The boy manages to free himself with the girl's help before the two try to flee.

The video also shows another man grabbing the girl by the neck and lifting her off the ground. The boy intervenes and pulls her away. During the scuffle, one of the men is also seen touching her inappropriately.

The harassment allegedly continued as the two tried to leave on their scooter. The girl, who was sitting on the back, was pulled by the hand by one of the men. The group also allegedly forced the minors to apologise before eventually letting them go. The girl can be heard pleading with the men to release them, promising that they would not return to the area.

POLICE PROBE, SEARCH FOR OTHERS

ADG Anupam said the police have so far identified the names of seven to eight people in connection with the incident. The criminal antecedents of the accused are also being verified.

The police will also examine the patrolling arrangements in the area where the incident took place. Further action will be taken against anyone found to have participated in the assault, the ADG said

The arrests came after police questioned the two minors and gathered details about the people involved. The investigation into the incident and the video is continuing, with efforts underway to trace the remaining accused.

32 SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS FLAGGED

The police have also launched action against accounts that circulated the video of the minors. Anupam said 13 Facebook accounts, 12 Instagram accounts and seven X accounts have so far been identified for takedown action.

Police warned that circulating a video that reveals the identity or face of a minor is itself an offence. Those found doing so will face action under the POCSO Act and Section 74 of the Juvenile Justice Act.

The incident had triggered outrage after the video spread online, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi calling for all those involved to be identified and prosecuted under POCSO. He also questioned the delay in arrests and raised concerns over the safety of girls on public roads in Bihar.

The case subsequently became a political flashpoint, with Congress targeting the Bihar government over law and order and women's safety. Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed described the incident as an example of what she called "jungle raaj" in Bihar and criticised Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and the BJP over the incident.

BIHAR MINISTER SAYS NO ACCUSED WILL BE SPARED

Bihar minister Jama Khan said the government is taking the Jamui incident seriously and that no one found guilty in the investigation will be spared. He said Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has also taken cognisance of the matter.

"The investigation is underway and whoever is found guilty will definitely face action. No guilty person will be spared at any cost," Khan said, adding that arrests had been made soon after the incident and efforts were on to apprehend the remaining accused.

Responding to Rahul Gandhi's post on the case, Khan said opposition parties were questioning the government's work, while claiming that people in Bihar had faith in the NDA government.

Asked about a purported viral video in which Samrat Choudhary is heard saying that he would resign the following day if an incident occurred at midnight, Khan said the Chief Minister was serious about the matter. He also said Bihar would continue to make progress in development.

Source: India Today