Agencies | Patna:
A fresh video purportedly showing a minor girl being harassed and assaulted at the Mandar Parvat tourist site in Bihar’s Banka district surfaced online on Friday, triggering criticism of the state government and raising concerns over the safety of women and children at public places.
The video, which circulated on social media, allegedly shows a group of boys harassing the girl at the tourist spot. The circumstances surrounding the recording and the identities of those seen in the video were not immediately clear.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav shared the video on social media and criticised the Bihar government over the state’s law-and-order situation.
Referring to recent incidents in Jamui and Darbhanga, Yadav alleged that the Banka episode was another instance of a minor being subjected to harassment and assault. He questioned when the accused in the latest case would be arrested and sought details of the action taken in the earlier cases.
Yadav also questioned the progress of investigations into the Jamui and other cases, alleging that the state government was failing to ensure accountability. His remarks included criticism of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and allegations concerning the treatment of accused persons based on their caste identities.
The allegations made by Yadav could not be independently verified from the material provided.
The Banka incident comes amid a series of cases involving alleged harassment of minor girls reported in Bihar in recent days.
In Darbhanga, police said a girl was allegedly molested in Keeratpur village on Monday after two motorcycle-borne men attempted to snatch her dupatta while she was travelling to school. The girl raised an alarm, following which passersby attempted to apprehend the accused, but they fled.
Police said both accused were traced within five hours. A case was registered at Jamalpur police station under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
According to police, the 19-year-old accused was sent to jail after being produced before a court, while his minor associate was produced before the Juvenile Justice Board.
In Jamui, a teenage girl and a boy, reportedly students at the same coaching centre, were allegedly stopped and harassed by a group on a road on September 19. Videos purportedly showing the girl being assaulted subsequently circulated on social media.
Bihar Police said two key accused were arrested following an encounter on Tuesday in which both sustained injuries. The number of arrests in that case later rose to five, including three minors.
The latest Banka video has prompted renewed scrutiny of the safety of minors at tourist destinations and public places, while authorities are expected to establish the authenticity of the footage, identify those involved and determine whether any offence has been committed.
