Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, reacting to the incident in Kalpetta, Kerala, described it as a “terrible incident” and said crimes against women were increasing. She said women were increasingly feeling unsafe and questioned how larger government schemes and programmes could be discussed if authorities could not ensure women’s safety on the streets.
Priyanka Gandhi said, “This is a terrible incident... Crimes against women are increasing and the environment has become unsafe for them. It was unsafe earlier too, but now violence against women has increased even more, and I think if we cannot ensure the safety of women on the streets, then there is no point talking about big schemes and programmes. So this is really something that all of us, especially the state governments and the central government, need to think about. They need to consider how they will ensure that women feel safe.”
The incident took place in a hilly area around three kilometres from the Jamui-Lakhisarai main road. A Class 10 student and her male classmate, who attended the same coaching centre, were returning from coaching on a scooter when they were allegedly stopped by a group of youths. The boy was separated from the girl, while the girl was surrounded and allegedly subjected to inappropriate behaviour. Some people reportedly attempted to intervene, but it took time for the incident to stop. Police have said the incident occurred on September 19.
A major concern in the case is that no complaint was filed for two days. Jamui Superintendent of Police Bishwajeet Dayal said that until Sunday, no complaint had been received from either of the two victims. After the video went viral, police traced the victims using the registration number of a vehicle visible in the footage. An FIR was subsequently registered, and a Special Investigation Team headed by SDPO Deepti Monali was constituted to identify and arrest those involved.
The National Commission for Women also took cognisance of the matter and directed the Director General of Police to take strict action.
The incident was followed by another serious development when the victim’s identity became public through the circulation of the video. Police subsequently registered a separate case at the cyber police station against around 120 social media profiles for allegedly circulating material that revealed the minor’s identity.
The incident has also triggered a political confrontation in Bihar, with the Opposition citing it as an example of the state’s deteriorating law-and-order situation. Minister Shravan Kumar described it as an isolated incident and said the government was saddened by what had happened.
The case has therefore raised questions not only over the alleged assault itself but also over the delay before a complaint was filed and the role of the viral video in prompting police action. The central question now being raised is whether the case would have received the same police response had the video not surfaced on social media.
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