New Delhi: Two men seen in viral videos of two minors being harassed in Bihar’s Jamui were arrested on Tuesday following an encounter, Munger Range DIG Rakesh Kumar told ThePrint. One of them, Nandan Yadav, 25, was seen groping and lifting the 15-year-old girl. Both Nandan and the other accused, Hare Ram Yadav, 25, are from Paratpur village in Jamui district, the DIG said.
Officials said a police team led by Jamui Superintendent of Police (SP) Vishwajeet Dayal and DIG Rakesh Kumar was conducting raids at the accused’s suspected hideouts when they traced them to the banks of a river.
“They were found hiding behind long grass on the riverbed and fired at the police team. Police fired back in self-defence, injuring Nandan in the leg. He has been admitted to a local hospital, and formalities for his arrest are being completed,” a police officer told ThePrint.
“It is not yet clear whether he suffered a fracture or another type of injury. Doctors will determine the exact nature of the injury. At present, he is unable to walk properly,” he added. Police also recovered the firearm allegedly used by the accused.
Officials said Nandan did irregular work driving tractors on rent and belonged to a low-income family in the village.
The arrests are the first in connection with the incident on Saturday evening, when the two Class 10 students were chased, molested and assaulted by a group of men.
In videos that went viral on social media, the group is seen confronting the minors and asking whether their families knew they were there. One man then slapped the boy, while a masked man was seen lifting the girl with his hands near her private parts as the boy tried to pull him away.
Jamui police registered an FIR under BNS Sections 74 (assault or criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 76 (assault or use of criminal force against a woman with intent to disrobe or compel her to be naked) and 3(5) (common intention) along with provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Three minors allegedly involved in the incident were apprehended on Monday.
(Edited by Chingkheinganbi Mayengbam)