A fresh molestation case has surfaced in Bihar's Samastipur district, days after a similar incident in Jamui triggered a statewide uproar. Janata Dal-United (JD-U) national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan on Thursday, 24 September warned that the accused in the Samastipur case would face the same consequences as those in the Jamui incident, where suspects were shot in the leg during an attempted escape before being apprehended.

What Happened in Samastipur

According to preliminary police information, the alleged incident took place in Jagatsinghpur village on Bandh Bypass Road under the jurisdiction of Karpurigram police station. A girl had reportedly stopped along the roadside with a male companion to take photographs when a group of youths surrounded her and allegedly misbehaved with her.

A video purportedly showing the incident began circulating widely on social media late on Wednesday. The footage allegedly shows some youths questioning the girl about her identity, verbally abusing her, and engaging in inappropriate behaviour, including an apparent attempt to pull her along the road. Police have since initiated action following the video's circulation.

What JD-U Leaders Said

Rajiv Ranjan said, 'Although I still don't have official information in the matter, the people who engage in such crimes will be punished accordingly. People who are sharing the video on social media and are revealing the identity of the victim will be punished too, like in the Jamui incident.'

He further added, 'We all should know that the culprits in the Jamui incident were half-encountered. The accused who were running from the police were shot in the leg, and then they were apprehended. All these culprits will be imprisoned for a long time. Criminals who are involved in such cases will not be pardoned.'

JD-U leader Shyam Rajak stated that Bihar's law and order was not in a bad condition and expressed confidence that the state government was taking timely action. He said Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary was taking cognisance of the matter and that investigations were ongoing with strict action being taken against all accused.

NDA Allies and Opposition React

Bihar Minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha leader Santosh Kumar Suman called the incident 'unfortunate' and said the NDA government was 'fully sensitive and alert.' He reiterated that those daring to commit such acts would be caught and punished under the law.

Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas MP Shambhavi Choudhary strongly condemned the incident, expressed solidarity with the victim, and thanked the Samastipur Police for initiating action promptly after the video began circulating.

From the opposition, Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad sharply criticised the state government, alleging that law and order had collapsed in Bihar. 'Law and order is in shambles in the state. It is a Jungle-Raj in Bihar,' he said. Prasad also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to take special cognisance of such cases and intervene.

The Jamui Backdrop

The Samastipur case has emerged just days after a minor girl was molested in Jamui and her identity was allegedly revealed across social media — a disclosure that itself drew legal scrutiny. In that case, police tracked down fleeing suspects and shot at least some of them in the leg before making arrests, a sequence of events that NDA leaders have since invoked as a deterrent signal. This is now the second high-profile molestation case from Bihar within a short span, intensifying scrutiny of the state's law enforcement response.

With investigations underway and political temperatures rising, the Samastipur case is likely to remain a flashpoint in Bihar's ongoing debate over women's safety and police accountability in the weeks ahead.