Bihar Minister Calls Jamui Groping Case 'Isolated' as Opposition Demands Justice

A video showing the molestation of a minor girl on a road in Bihar's Jamui district has triggered widespread outrage, prompting police to launch a hunt for those involved. Three people, including minors, have been taken into custody, and cases have been registered under the POCSO and Juvenile Justice Acts.

The footage showed a group of men assaulting a boy and molesting his female companion, attempting to separate the two. Both are Class 10 students who were returning from coaching classes when the group accosted them.

Reacting to the Opposition's charge that Bihar is in the grip of "Jungle Raj", minister Shrawon Kumar said such incidents are "isolated".

"It can't be denied that isolated incidents do take place. Crime hasn't ended in the world," he said, while assuring that the government would conduct a thorough investigation and take strict action against the culprits.

The Opposition has seized on the incident, alleging that women are not safe in the state under Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary's rule.

Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav said, "It's a very sad incident. We are ashamed, but the government has no shame or embarrassment. Samrat Chaudhary used to say that girls are roaming freely at night. But the reality is that girls are not safe in Bihar -- be it day or night."

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi described the incident as "deeply disturbing" and called out the "patriarchy" that leads to such crimes. In a post on X, he said the Class 10 students were stopped on a road, harassed, humiliated and molested, and demanded that all those who victimised the girl be brought to justice under stringent laws.

Tej Pratap Yadav, national president of Janshakti Janata Dal, promised a hunger strike if the government does not take concrete action. "The Bihar government bears full accountability for this, and the Chief Minister must answer for it. If he fails to respond, our party will stage a hunger strike and launch a protest movement in Bihar," he said.

Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) MP from Jamui, Arun Bharti, called the incident a cause for concern but refuted the Opposition's charge of Jungle Raj. He said the district administration has been working to ensure the culprits are brought to justice.