In Bihar's Darbhanga district, two individuals, including a minor, were swiftly apprehended this past Monday following the alleged public molestation of a schoolgirl in Keeratpur village. The incident, where the duo reportedly attempted to snatch the victim's dupatta, occurred while she was en route to school, drawing immediate police action.
According to a police statement, the two motorcycle-borne persons targeted the girl, prompting her cries for help. Passersby attempted to intervene, but the assailants managed to flee on their two-wheeler. Authorities at Jamalpur police station registered a case under the POCSO Act and relevant sections of the BNS. Investigators tracked down and arrested both suspects within five hours of the crime. The 19-year-old adult accused now faces judicial custody after being presented in court, while the minor co-accused has been referred to the juvenile justice board.
This incident in Darbhanga quickly drew political attention, echoing a similar harassment case in Jamui just days prior. The opposition RJD party, via its social media, shared the police statement and used the opportunity to counter earlier allegations made by Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi. Manjhi had previously asserted that the accused in the September 19 Jamui incident belonged to the Yadav caste, the same social group as RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, and had referred to them as 'brothers of Tejashwi Yadav.' The RJD now claims the Darbhanga perpetrators belong to the 'social group' of the Gaya MP, effectively turning Manjhi's own rhetoric against him by labeling the accused as 'sons' of the Union minister.
The Jamui episode involved a teenage girl and boy, reportedly students at the same coaching centre, who were harassed by a group on a road. Social media circulated video clips allegedly depicting the girl's molestation. Bihar Police reported arresting two primary suspects after an encounter on Tuesday, where both sustained injuries. With these arrests, the total number of individuals held in connection with the Jamui case stands at five, including three minors.
Image: siasat.com
đź“° Source: Siasat Gulf