Jamui: A case involving two Class 10 students in Bihar’s Jamui district has triggered a police investigation, an SIT probe and a political controversy after the teenagers were allegedly stopped and harassed by a group of youths while returning from the Madwa Pahad area on September 19.
Three minors have been apprehended in connection with the incident, while police are searching for other suspects. Investigators are also examining videos of the incident that were circulated on social media.
A separate case has been registered against around 120 social media profile holders for allegedly circulating material that could reveal the identity of the minor girl.
The incident has also prompted questions about the safety of students and women at relatively isolated locations around Jamui, while political leaders from both the Opposition and ruling alliance have reacted to the case.
What happened in Jamui?
According to police and information emerging from the investigation, the incident took place at around 7 pm on September 19.
The two students, both studying in Class 10, had reportedly attended tuition classes and then gone towards the Madwa Pahad area on a scooter. While returning, they were allegedly stopped on the road by a group of youths.
Videos subsequently circulated online appear to show several youths surrounding the two students and preventing them from leaving.
The students can be heard repeatedly asking the youths to let them go. The youths allegedly questioned them about their identities, where they lived, their families and their relationship with each other.
The teenagers reportedly told the group that they were friends and had gone to the hill area after tuition.
What do the videos show?
Several video clips related to the incident have emerged.
Patna Press is not publishing or linking to the videos because they involve a minor and contain sensitive material.
In one clip, a group of youths can be seen surrounding the two students and stopping them from leaving. The students repeatedly request that they be allowed to go.
The footage also shows the youths asking the students questions and examining the boy’s mobile phone. At one point, the students are asked to show photographs taken during their visit to the hill area.
The videos also appear to show the girl being subjected to inappropriate physical behaviour. The boy attempts to intervene and protect her.
In another sequence, the students try to leave on their scooter but are allegedly stopped again. The footage shows some youths pulling the scooter back and preventing the teenagers from leaving.
The exact sequence of events, the identity of each person visible in the videos and their individual roles are being established by police.
How long did the incident continue?
Police and reports based on the available video footage indicate that the teenagers were prevented from leaving for a considerable period.
During different portions of the footage, the two students appear to be repeatedly stopped, questioned and subjected to harassment.
They can be seen asking to be allowed to leave.
The police investigation will establish the precise duration of the incident and the roles of the individual suspects.
Three minors apprehended, SIT formed
Bihar Police have taken action in the case.
Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) K.S. Anupam said that three minors had been apprehended in connection with the incident. Police have also identified other suspects and are attempting to trace them.
An SIT has been constituted under the leadership of Jamui SDPO Deepti Monali to investigate the case.
The case has been registered under relevant provisions of the POCSO Act and other applicable laws.
Investigators are examining video footage, statements and digital evidence to determine the sequence of events and the role of each suspect.
Why is there a separate case over the viral videos?
The police investigation has also expanded to the circulation of the videos on social media.
Jamui SP Vishwajeet Dayal said a case had been registered at the Cyber Police Station against people who allegedly circulated material that revealed the identity of the minor victim.
Around 120 social media profile holders have been named in the case, according to the SP.
Police said that revealing the identity of a minor victim and circulating related material can attract legal action under applicable provisions of the POCSO Act, Information Technology Act and Juvenile Justice law.
Police have asked social media users not to download, forward or repost the videos.
Why has Madwa Pahad come under scrutiny?
The incident has also brought attention to the location where the students were allegedly stopped.
Madwa Pahad is situated around 15 kilometres from Jamui district headquarters, with the hill area around four kilometres from the reported location of the incident.
The area is visited by people for recreation, but parts of the route are relatively isolated, particularly in the evening.
Questions have consequently been raised about lighting, police patrolling and emergency assistance in such areas.
The presence or absence of adequate security arrangements, including regular patrolling and police deployment, will need to be assessed by the authorities.
What are the questions about safety?
The incident has raised broader questions about the safety of students visiting relatively isolated recreational locations.
Among the issues that authorities may need to examine are:
- Whether police patrols are conducted regularly in the area.
- Whether adequate lighting is available on approach roads.
- Whether vulnerable or isolated stretches have been identified for additional surveillance.
- How quickly visitors can access police or emergency assistance.
- Whether CCTV or other surveillance measures are feasible at sensitive locations.
These issues are separate from determining criminal liability in the present case, which remains the subject of the police investigation.
Political reactions to the Jamui case
The incident has also become a political issue in Bihar, with Opposition leaders questioning the state government’s law-and-order record and the safety of women and girls.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the incident in a post on X, describing the video as disturbing and questioning the circumstances in which the two students were stopped and the girl was allegedly harassed.
Bihar Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav also criticised the state government and raised questions about women’s safety and law and order in Bihar.
JD(U) state president Umesh Kushwaha, meanwhile, described such incidents as “sporadic” and pointed to the police response and ongoing action against the accused.
Bihar Congress president Rajesh Ram said the incident raised serious questions about law and order, while BJP spokesperson Kuntal Krishna said the incident was shameful and that those found responsible would face action.
Minister Sunil Kumar said the Jamui SP had informed him that five to six people were allegedly involved and that three had been identified, with action against others underway.
Singer and actor Khesari Lal Yadav also called for an impartial investigation and strict action against those found responsible.
Jamui MP and LJP (Ram Vilas) leader Arun Bharti, as well as Jamui MLA and Industries Minister Shreyasi Singh, have also called for strict action against those responsible.
What happens next?
The investigation now has two major aspects.
The first is to establish exactly what happened to the two students, identify everyone involved and determine their individual roles.
The second concerns the circulation of videos and material that could reveal the identity of the minor victim.
Police are examining video footage, social media posts and other digital evidence as part of both investigations.
Three minors have already been apprehended, while efforts are continuing to trace other suspects.
Police have also appealed to the public not to share the videos or any information that could identify the minor victim.
The investigation will determine the full sequence of events and the legal action against those found responsible.
