BJP MLA's absurd statement on minor incident sparks controversy

Bihar minister and Jamui BJP MLA Shreyasi Singh's statement has stirred a debate.

A bizarre statement by Bihar minister and BJP MLA from Jamui, Shreyasi Singh, has sparked controversy. She stated that moral policing can be done “in a slightly more civilized and decent manner.” She made this remark during an interview with a news channel, where she condemned the mistreatment of a boy and a girl in Jamui district.

BJP leader and former sports shooter Shreyasi Singh expressed her anger over the behavior towards minors, but she also said that the way to express moral policing should be more respectful.

Shreyasi Singh's comment came after a video went viral showing some individuals stopping two teenagers on the roadside in Jamui district and assaulting them. This video has caused outrage across the country and sparked a debate on moral policing and the treatment of youth in public spaces.

Amid widespread condemnation of the incident, Shreyasi Singh said that,

“People may have the right to express their opinions about someone's lifestyle or decisions, but the way to express disagreement should be respectful. You can have your opinion about how someone lives their life, but the way they were treated is absolutely unacceptable.”

This incident has reignited the debate on the safety of minors, the personal freedom of youth, and the role of moral policing in society. The Jamui incident has also raised the question that no one should be allowed to take the law into their own hands in the name of objecting to someone's personal decisions or lifestyle.

It is worth noting that police have taken action in the case of the mistreatment, sexual harassment, and assault of two minors in Jamui. The main accused, Nandan Yadav, has been arrested after being shot in the leg by the police, while an FIR has been registered against 120 social media profiles for sharing a video that revealed the identity of the minor victim.

The police have also arrested another accused in this case. Previously, three other accused had been arrested. The incident occurred on September 19. A minor girl studying in the 10th grade and her minor friend were returning from a tourist spot on a two-wheeler. It is alleged that some individuals stopped them in the name of ‘moral policing.’ Subsequently, the girl was molested and sexually harassed, while her friend was assaulted.

The case gained traction after a video of the incident went viral on social media. According to the police, initial investigations revealed that the video was recorded by one of the accused, Ramashish Chaudhary, who is currently absconding.

Jamui SP Vishwajit Dayal stated that,

“After the incident, both victims did not file a complaint with the police due to fear and threats from the accused. However, after the video went viral on Sunday, the police traced both victims using the registration number of the vehicle shown in the video.”

Subsequently, an FIR was registered under the POCSO Act and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The victims did not name the accused, but the police identified three individuals based on the viral video and arrested them. The police have also initiated action against those who shared the video revealing the identity of the minor victim on social media.

SP Vishwajit Dayal said,

“After learning about the unfortunate incident in Jamui district, the police took it seriously and initiated strict action. However, circulating such a video on social media that reveals the identity of the minor victim is a cognizable offense under Section 23(4) of the POCSO Act, relevant sections of the IT Act, and Section 74 of the Juvenile Justice Act.”

He informed that a case number 45/26 has been registered at the Cyber Police Station in this matter. This FIR has been filed against the holders of 120 social media user profiles from which the video was circulated.

The SP appealed to the public to respect the privacy of the minor victim and not to share or circulate the video related to the incident on social media.

Considering the seriousness of the case, the police have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT). This team is being led by Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Deepti Monali.

The police stated that,

“The video was recorded by one of the accused, and initial investigations suggest that someone involved in the incident may have circulated it on social media. The police are investigating the entire matter from different angles. The administration has also begun the process of removing the viral video from social media platforms.”

It is noteworthy that a case has emerged from Jamui, Bihar, where a minor boy and girl were stopped on their way back from coaching on Saturday evening and were assaulted and molested. The incident is reported to have occurred between 6 and 7 PM. After the video of the incident surfaced on social media, the police registered a case under the POCSO Act.

The video shows some individuals surrounding the two teenagers and assaulting them. Both can be seen pleading with the accused to let them go.

In one video, an accused is seen making highly objectionable gestures towards the girl and attempting to drag her off the ground.

In another video of the incident, the boy is seen pleading with the accused to let him and the girl go. He mentions that they study in the same school and that their families are aware of them.

In response, one accused slaps the boy and says, “If they know, then call them.” Following this, another voice from the group says, “Call the family.”

The girl also continuously pleads with the accused to let them go. She can be heard saying, “Please let us go, we will never come here again.” At the end of the video, some individuals in the group tell both of them to leave.

The police have registered a case under the relevant sections of the POCSO Act, or the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. During police action, it was reported that one accused was shot, while three other accused have been arrested.

In response to the incident, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi described it as “extremely disturbing.”

He stated that no individual has the right to control a girl's body, her movement, and her choices. Rahul Gandhi linked this to patriarchal thinking, stating that when such a mindset is normalized, the mob begins to see itself as the law.

In Bihar, Leader of the Opposition and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said that the person who mistreated the minor was wrapped in a saffron scarf and that CM Samrat Chaudhary is linking it to caste.

He posted on X saying that,

“While the Jamui incident was happening, Samrat Chaudhary was holding a caste conference and called a police officer at night to inquire about the caste of the criminal.”

Meanwhile, the comments of the state president of the ruling Janata Dal (United), Umesh Kushwaha, are also in discussion. He referred to the incident as a “minor and trivial incident” and stated that the government is sensitive to such occurrences.

Umesh Kushwaha referred to Bihar before 2005, saying that at that time there was an atmosphere of fear about going out of the house. He questioned what the situation in Bihar was like during that period and whether people could step out of their homes. His remarks have drawn questions from the opposition.