# Inside Bihar's Jamui Case: Police Clamp Down on Assault Suspects and Social Media Handles

**By Arjun Mehta**  \nPublished September 28, 2026  \nUpdated September 28, 2026

> A viral harassment video in Jamui sparks SIT arrests under POCSO and BNS, prompting Bihar Police to launch takedown actions against 32 social media accounts while political outrage mounts.

## Anatomy of an Assault in Jamui

When disturbing footage surfaced showing a group of men surrounding and harassing two Class 10 students near a hilly outcrop in Jamui, it ignited immediate outrage and a swift response from law enforcement. The incident occurred between 6:25 and 7:00 pm on September 19, roughly three kilometres off the Jamui-Lakhisarai main road near the Madwa hillock. The two teenage friends were returning on a motorbike after attending coaching classes and visiting a local photography spot when local youths intercepted them under the guise of "moral policing."

What followed was a violent ordeal. Members of the group hurled vulgar comments, physically assaulted the boy, and sexually assaulted the girl while filming the abuse on a mobile phone. Despite the victims pleading for help, the attackers threatened to upload the video online if the teenagers reported the crime. Paralyzed by fear, the traumatized victims and their families did not file an official complaint on September 20. However, when the footage went viral on social media on the morning of September 21, the situation escalated into a nationwide law enforcement emergency.

## Investigative Steps and the Chronology of Enforcement

Taking suo motu cognisance on the morning of September 21, Bihar Police initiated immediate action. Officers used the vehicle registration number visible in the viral video clip to identify and locate the young victims, establishing contact to formally register a case at the Jamui police station.

blockquote>"Although the incident is two days old, no complaint was made before us by the boy or the girl till Sunday. Today, when the video went viral, we traced the victims with the help of the registration number of a vehicle visible in the clip,"

Jamui SP Bishwajeet DayalJamui Police established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by female Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Deepti Monali to lead the manhunt. Through detailed video frame analysis, investigators identified approximately seven to eight individuals involved in the confrontation. By the afternoon of September 21, authorities took three minor suspects into custody—two of whom were aged between 17 and 18—while continuing raids across the hilly terrain to locate the remaining perpetrators.

caption>Chronology of the Jamui Moral Policing and Digital Enforcement Casethead>Date & TimeEvent / Action TakenLegal & Operational Detailstbody>Sept 19 (6:25–7:00 PM)Interception near Madwa hillockClass 10 students returning on motorbike targeted under 'moral policing'; assault filmed on mobile device.Sept 20Initial silence due to fearNo complaint filed by traumatized victims or families following extortion and threats.Sept 21 (Morning)Footage goes viral onlineSocial media circulation triggers nationwide outrage and law enforcement action.Sept 21 (Mid-day)FIR & SIT FormationJamui Police trace victims via vehicle registration plate; SIT led by SDPO Deepti Monali formed under BNS Sections 74 & 75 and POCSO Sections 8 & 12.Sept 21 (Afternoon)Initial Suspect CustodyThree minor suspects arrested in Jamui; police initiate initial steps to halt video spread.Sept 23 (Monday)Formal Digital Takedowns AnnouncedADG KS Anupam reveals targeted takedown actions initiated against 32 social media handles across Facebook, Instagram, and X.

## Targeting Digital Redistribution Under POCSO and JJ Act

As the video continued to spread online, Bihar Police turned their attention to neutralizing secondary digital harm. On Monday, September 23, Additional Director General (ADG) of Law and Order KS Anupam confirmed that police had taken explicit legal measures against social media handles circulating the footage without blurring the minor victim's face.

Anupam stressed that revealing the face or identity of a child victim constitutes a severe statutory offense under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Section 74 of the Juvenile Justice Act. Law enforcement announced that takedown actions had been initiated against 32 accounts across major platforms so far:

- **Facebook:** 13 accounts flagged for sharing or reposting unblurred footage.
- **Instagram:** 12 accounts cited for secondary distribution.
- **X (formerly Twitter):** 7 accounts targeted for viral dissemination.The National Commission for Women (NCW) also took suo motu cognisance of the situation, demanding rapid intervention to halt the online circulation. Bihar Police issued explicit warnings to online users, reminding them that downloading, sharing, or reposting unblurred footage exposing a minor victim's identity makes individuals liable to separate criminal prosecution.

## Political Outrage and Governance Accountability

The disturbing footage sparked quick criticism from national political leaders, turning public attention toward state law enforcement, transit safety, and patrolling along isolated corridors. Opposition figures sharply criticized the ruling administration, pointing to systemic flaws in societal protection and road safety.

blockquote>"This is not culture, it is patriarchy,"

Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in Lok SabhaGandhi demanded that everyone involved in the assault be prosecuted under the POCSO Act and questioned state authorities regarding women's safety on public roads. Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also condemned the mob violence in a statement on X, calling the footage "gut-wrenching" and emphasizing the danger of mob rule.

blockquote>"Those who took the law into their own hands in the name of ‘moral policing’ must be held accountable by the police and the law. No society can allow mobs to decide who deserves dignity, who deserves freedom, or who deserves punishment. I am sorry. I apologise to you. Because somewhere, somehow, we as a nation failed you. We failed to protect you. We failed the trust you placed in the adults, institutions and society around you."

Mamata Banerjee, Former West Bengal Chief MinisterThe Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) similarly attacked the administration, questioning safety claims and government assurances surrounding female empowerment. The incident highlights broader enforcement patterns across the region, echoing a concurrent case in Samastipur where police took suo motu cognisance and arrested four individuals under the BNS, POCSO, and IT Acts after assault footage appeared online.

As Bihar Police examine local patrolling protocols along the Jamui-Lakhisarai stretch, the case illustrates the dual burden on modern law enforcement: apprehending violent offenders on the ground while clamping down on digital redistribution that inflicts secondary harm on minor victims.

## Sources

- [hindustantimes.com](https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bihars-jamui-harassment-case-two-minors-moral-policing-account-action-fir-congress-jdu-bjp-101790043537933.html) — original
- [timesnownews.com](https://www.timesnownews.com/crime/jamui-mob-molestation-viral-video-police-action-social-media-accounts-minor-face-revealed-article-156198016) — original
- [timesofindia.indiatimes.com](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/news/please-let-us-go-minors-harassed-girl-molested-on-jamui-street-shocking-video-from-bihar/videoshow/134383687.cms) — original