Patna: Days after the widely circulated molestation episode in Jamui, two more incidents of sexual harassment and assault were reported in Samastipur and Muzaffarpur districts of Bihar, resulting in the arrest of a total of five persons, police said on Thursday, according to PTI.
Police action and charges
Samastipur police said four men have been detained after a video circulated on social media allegedly showed a girl being molested in public. The statement said the clip "appears about a week old" and the victim had not yet been formally identified; however, authorities registered a case invoking sections of the Bihar Penal Code (BNS), the IT Act and the POCSO Act, since "the girl looked like a minor and the matter was sensitive".
Names of three accused in the Samastipur case were given as Vikas Kumar, Rahul Kumar and Rambabu Sahni, all reported to be residents of Jagatsinghpur village where the incident occurred. A fourth person, Awadhesh Paswan, was named as hailing from Bijaulia.
In Muzaffarpur, police arrested one man, identified as Lalit Kumar, after an allegation that he had molested and beaten a girl in the Town police station area. Authorities said the accused appeared to be mentally unstable and that experts were examining his condition. The victim has been admitted to Sadar Hospital for treatment, the police statement said.
Official statements and social media
Muzaffarpur and Samastipur police both moved quickly after the circulation of videos on social platforms. Police in Madhepura, which saw a separate viral clip, clarified that the footage was shot near a secondary school and showed male and female students arguing after half-yearly examinations; they said no molestation had been reported there and warned they would take action against those who shared the video "with ulterior motives".
"The video appears about a week old ... the girl looked like a minor and the matter was sensitive," the Samastipur police statement said.
Arrests by district
| District | Accused (named) | Arrests |
|---|---|---|
| Samastipur | Vikas Kumar, Rahul Kumar, Rambabu Sahni, Awadhesh Paswan | 4 |
| Muzaffarpur | Lalit Kumar | 1 |
Political fallout
The fresh incidents triggered criticism of the BJP-led state government from leaders of opposition parties, according to PTI. RJD working president Tejashwi Yadav and Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor were reported to have attacked the administration, linking the episodes to a perceived deterioration in law and order.
Opposition voices have been vociferous since the Jamui case drew national attention, underscoring concerns about public safety for women and minors. The new cases in Samastipur and Muzaffarpur revive those debates and raise questions about the effectiveness of police prevention and social-media moderation strategies in the state.
Impact and practical implications
Legal steps taken in both districts include invoking the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act where the victims were perceived to be minors, and using provisions of the IT Act in connection with viral videos. The police response—arrests, medical examination of victims, and referrals to mental-health experts in the accused’s case in Muzaffarpur—indicates use of available legal and procedural remedies.
- Victims have been admitted to local hospitals for treatment and medico-legal examination.
- Police said they will probe the origins of viral clips and hold those sharing misleading content accountable.
- Investigations are ongoing and identification of victims remains a priority for authorities in Samastipur.
These developments come amid heightened public scrutiny of incidents involving sexual violence in Bihar. Authorities face pressure to ensure swift investigation and prosecution while maintaining sensitivity towards victims and preventing the spread of potentially inflammatory material on social media. PTI has reported the incidents and police statements on which this account is based.
Reporting from Patna; details compiled from PTI dispatches.
