Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) founder and Bankipur MLA Prashant Kishor on Tuesday, 22 September sharply condemned the Jamui molestation incident, questioning why the Bihar government was cracking down on social media handles that circulated the video of the assault rather than focusing its enforcement on the primary accused. Kishor's remarks came as the case sent shockwaves across the state and drew national attention.

What Prashant Kishor Said

Speaking to reporters, Kishor called the incident 'horrific and terrifying,' arguing that the alleged perpetrators — described as a group engaged in self-appointed 'moral policing' — acted with apparent impunity. 'The people who have appointed themselves as moral police and committed such a crime against a minor girl, and then recorded and released a video of it, show that somewhere the fear of the government has completely disappeared from society,' he said. 'And this has happened because they are wearing so-called saffron scarves and have appointed themselves as social police.'

Kishor further questioned the state's law-enforcement response, noting that the incident occurred three or four days before it came to public knowledge. 'If those who committed this heinous act had not recorded and released the video themselves, we would not even have known about it,' he said, adding that the Chief Minister's daily claim that he would resign if anyone was harmed rang hollow against this backdrop.

On the police action against social media accounts, Kishor said: 'The ADG Law and Order has taken action against the social media handles circulating the video. However, if the video had not been circulated, then how would we have known about it? The action would be taken against those circulating the video but not against the actual culprits?' He also took a jab at the Centre's flagship 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' campaign, saying the government's inaction suggested the message was effectively: 'Save your daughter yourself, educate your daughter yourself — the government will do nothing.'

Police Action: Arrests and FIRs

In a significant development on Tuesday, Jamui police arrested Nandan Yadav, identified as the alleged prime accused, following a police encounter in which he sustained a gunshot injury to his leg. Yadav was identified through the viral video; police said he was the youth seen wearing a red gamchha in the footage. He has been hospitalised for treatment.

Separately, police also arrested Ramashish Chaudhary, who is accused of circulating the video online. With these latest arrests, five individuals have been taken into custody so far, including three juveniles. The investigation is ongoing, with police examining the roles of additional individuals and the circumstances under which the video was recorded and disseminated.

Meanwhile, police had earlier registered FIRs against operators of 120 social media profiles across multiple platforms for allegedly sharing content that could reveal the identity of the minor victim — a move that drew criticism from Kishor and civil society observers who argued it risked penalising whistleblowers alongside bad actors.

What Happened in Jamui

The incident occurred late on Saturday evening in the Madwa Pahar area of Jamui district, where a minor girl student was allegedly stopped and molested by a group of youths while she was returning from the area. A male student accompanying her was also allegedly assaulted, according to the FIR. The matter came to light after a video began circulating on social media on Sunday evening, prompting the district administration to contact the victim's family and register a case.

The Broader Context

Critics argue the Bihar government's response — swift action against social media accounts while the main accused remained at large for days — reflects a pattern of prioritising optics over substantive law enforcement in cases involving organised groups. Notably, Yadav's arrest came only after public and political pressure mounted, underlining the role that viral documentation, however uncomfortable for authorities, played in triggering accountability. The case is likely to intensify scrutiny of so-called 'moral policing' incidents across Bihar ahead of upcoming political cycles.

What Happens Next

Police have said the investigation is continuing and further arrests are possible. Legal proceedings against the arrested accused, including the juveniles, are expected to proceed under applicable provisions of child protection law. The handling of the 120 social media FIRs will likely face legal challenge, with rights groups expected to question their consistency with press freedom and whistleblower protections.