‘When control is mistaken for culture’: Rahul Gandhi on harassment incident in Bihar’s Jamui

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday condemned the alleged harassment and molestation of a woman in Bihar's Jamui, after a disturbing video showing two friends being allegedly harassed by a group of men surfaced online. He also questioned why the accused had not been arrested earlier.

Calling the video "deeply disturbing", Gandhi said two Class 10 students were stopped on a road and allegedly harassed, humiliated and molested. He demanded that all those involved be identified and prosecuted under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

"The video from Jamui, Bihar is deeply disturbing. Two Class 10 students were stopped on a road. Harassed. Humiliated. Molested. A young girl, hands folded, begged to be let go while goons groped her and dragged her away. Who gave these men the right to behave like this? This is not "culture." It is patriarchy: the belief that any man can police a girl's body, her movement, her choices. When control is mistaken for culture, and such attitudes are normalised by Andhbhakts, mobs start believing they are the law. Every individual in that video must be identified and prosecuted under POCSO, and justice must be swift. And if the incident happened on September 19th, why are the culprits not behind bars yet? And the Bihar government must answer why a girl is not safe on a public road at 7 pm?" Rahul Gandhi wrote in X.

The reaction came after a video showing two friends being allegedly harassed by a group of people in Jamui gained traction on social media. Police have since arrested three people in connection with the incident.

The video shows the two friends being surrounded by a group of people, with one person holding the collar of the male victim's shirt and pulling him away from the woman. As she tries to escape, a masked man follows her and allegedly grabs her from behind.

The woman is heard screaming as she resists attempts to grope her.

The woman's friend eventually breaks free and rushes to help her. The two then run towards their two-wheeler, but the group allegedly chases them.

An argument follows as the two friends get on the vehicle to escape. The attackers are seen grabbing the woman's arm as she pleads for help before the video ends.

Jamui Superintendent of Police Vishwajit Dayal had earlier said police had contacted the woman and were analysing the video to identify those involved. Police are also investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The arrests came hours after social media users tagged Bihar Police and demanded action against those seen in the video.