Bihar Road Harassment Case: Three Arrested After Class 10 Students Targeted in Jamui
Three people have been arrested in Bihar’s Jamui after a disturbing incident involving two Class 10 students, a boy and a girl, who were allegedly stopped and harassed by a group of men while returning from coaching classes. The incident reportedly took place on the evening of September 19, and videos of the confrontation surfaced on social media on September 21, prompting police action.
According to reports, the two teenagers had travelled by scooter to Madwa Pahad after attending their coaching classes. While returning through the Jamui area, they were allegedly intercepted by a group of youths. The group reportedly questioned the students, stopped them from leaving and subjected them to physical and verbal harassment.
Videos circulated online show several people surrounding the minors. The boy was allegedly pulled away from the girl, while the girl was confronted by members of the group. Footage also appears to show one man grabbing and lifting the girl as she resisted and pleaded to be allowed to leave. The students were eventually able to leave the spot.
The incident reportedly lasted for around 20 minutes, although the videos circulating online are much shorter. Police have been examining the footage and other available evidence to establish exactly what happened and determine the individual roles of those present.
Jamui Police took cognisance of the matter after the videos became widely circulated. Police traced the two students, recorded their statements and registered a case. Initial reports said several people were visible in the footage, and investigators began working to identify those involved.
By Monday, September 21, police had arrested three people in connection with the case. Reports said an FIR had been registered under provisions including the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, with investigators continuing to establish the identities and specific roles of other suspects.
Jamui Superintendent of Police Vishwajit Dayal said the incident occurred on September 19 and that the police had not initially received a complaint from the victims or their families. The investigation began after the video came to the police’s attention, following which officers contacted the victims and proceeded with the case.
Police have also said they are verifying the authenticity and circumstances of the videos while collecting additional evidence. The investigation is expected to determine whether everyone visible in the footage participated in the alleged offences and whether further arrests are warranted.
The case has generated widespread public concern because the alleged victims are minors and the incident took place on a public road. The circulation of the footage has also raised concerns about the recording and dissemination of material involving minors, alongside questions about the safety of students travelling home after coaching classes.
The Bihar State Commission for Women has also taken cognisance of the incident and called for strict action, according to local reports. Police have indicated that the safety and confidentiality of the minor victims are being treated as important considerations during the investigation.
The incident has also triggered political reactions. Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi publicly condemned the alleged harassment and called for prosecution under child-protection laws. His comments came after the videos spread widely online and the arrests were announced.
Bihar minister Sunil Kumar said the local administration would take appropriate action and that those found responsible should face legal consequences. At the same time, he rejected the characterization of the incident as evidence of conditions across the entire state, stressing that action should be based on the specific facts of the case.
The Jamui case remains under investigation, and police have said further action will follow as evidence is examined and the roles of the remaining people seen in the videos are established. The arrests announced so far therefore represent an ongoing investigation rather than the conclusion of the case.
