Jamui molestation case: Tejashwi Yadav accuses Bihar CM of violating POCSO by sharing victim’s photo

PATNA: Bihar chief minister Samrat Choudhary on Thursday drew criticism from the opposition RJD for allegedly revealing the identity of a minor girl who was molested a few days ago in Jamui district.The minor, along with her family, met Choudhary and was assured of “speedy justice” and “strongest possible punishments to all culprits within a month through speedy trial”, officials said.Choudhary shared a photograph of himself with the victim and her family members on his X handle.The post was subsequently taken down, news agency PTI reported.RJD national working president Tejashwi Yadav saved a screenshot of the post and targeted the BJP leader.Sharing the screenshot on X, Yadav, the leader of the opposition in the state assembly, criticised the chief minister, calling him “foolish and inept”.He accused Choudhary of “violating the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act”.Yadav, who is also a former deputy chief minister, alleged that Choudhary had failed in his Class VII exam and was convicted in seven murders, PTI reported.“The BJP leader deserves the strongest possible punishment for violating provisions of the POCSO Act,” Yadav said.“The way chief minister Samrat Choudhary has violated the POCSO Act. Bihar Police should immediately invoke the POCSO Act against him,” Yadav said.He further questioned, “If the police have invoked the Act against 80-90 people in Jamui and elsewhere, why is the Chief Minister being spared?”The screenshot was also shared by Yadav’s eldest sister, Misa Bharti, the RJD MP from Patliputra. She urged the Bihar Police to “lodge an FIR against the CM,” PTI reported.Bharti alleged that Choudhary revealed the identity of the minor victim even as those who had uploaded videos of the molestation were being booked by the Bihar Police for violating the girl’s privacy.What happened in Jamui?The minor girl, a Class 10 student, and a Class 10 boy, both friends and residents of Jamui town, were returning from coaching classes on a scooter on September 19 when a group of youths allegedly stopped them in the Sadar police station area.The girl was allegedly surrounded and the boy was separated from her.Videos that later surfaced online purportedly showed several youths questioning the girl, subjecting her to inappropriate physical contact and allegedly dragging her on the road.Police said the episode was believed to have continued for around 20 minutes, though only portions were captured in the videos.The incident was not initially reported to police by the victims or their families.Police took cognisance after the footage surfaced on social media, traced the victims using a vehicle registration number visible in the video and registered an FIR under the POCSO Act and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).All accused in the case have been arrested.(With agency inputs)You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Patna | Silver Rate in Patna | Bank Holidays in Patna | Public Holidays in Patna | Patna AQI | Weather in Patna | Petrol Price in Patna | Diesel Price in Patna | CNG Price in Patna | LPG Price in PatnaStay updated with the latest Patna news. Download the TOI App.