New Delhi: It was only after videos of the harassment and assault of two minors from Bihar’s Jamui went viral on social media that their parents learned about the incident on Saturday evening. The 15-year-old girl’s father, a businessman, told ThePrint on Monday, “We did not know about the incident when it happened. We only got to know about the incident on Sunday. We were shocked.”
His daughter revealed what had happened after news channels reported the case. “She was scared to talk about the incident,” he said.
The mother of the 15-year-old boy said he, too, “was extremely shocked, and scared, to share any details about the incident”. She said she learned about it only after seeing videos circulating on Instagram.
“We did not know what happened on Saturday. Due to fear, he had not said anything at home. We only found out about the entire incident when we saw multiple Instagram videos that went viral,” she told ThePrint over the phone.
The videos showed the two Class 10 students being harassed as they returned from their coaching classes. The boy is seen riding a two-wheeler with the girl on the pillion when a group surrounds them on a dimly lit roadside. The men question them about whether they are classmates and whether their families know about them. One of them slaps the boy and asks the two to call their families, saying, “If they know, then call them.”
In other videos, several men are seen chasing the minors. One man lifts the girl by placing his hands near her private parts as the boy tries to pull him away. The boy is also seen being dragged by his collar.
“We are very angry after what happened to our child. We demand the strongest action from the government. We deserve justice,” the girl’s father said, adding that none of the accused should be granted bail.
The boy’s mother, who was travelling outside Jamui, said she “had gone completely blank” after seeing the video. “We were extremely shocked after seeing the incident,” she said.
She added that her husband was handling the case and looking into the details. “For our son’s safety, his father has cut off social media.”
Police on Monday apprehended three people allegedly involved in the assault. The accused, who are also minors, were identified from the videos and are from Jamui district. “Identification of other accused persons is being done,” Jamui Superintendent of Police (SP) Vishwajit Dayal said.
After examining the videos, police determined that the incident took place within the jurisdiction of Jamui City police station at around 7pm on Saturday. The minors had gone to the spot to click pictures after their coaching classes, the SP said.
The two-wheeler used by the minors provided a crucial clue in identifying them, Dayal told ThePrint. Jamui district police subsequently 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.
The Jamui Police have also formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case.
Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo motu cognizance of the incident. NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar wrote to the Bihar Director General of Police, directing the immediate arrest of all accused and a time-bound, impartial investigation. Rahatkar also sought a detailed Action Taken Report (ATR) within seven days, the commission said in a statement.
It has also directed authorities to take necessary legal action to stop further circulation of the videos on social media.
(Edited by Chingkheinganbi Mayengbam)
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