Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary Faces Backlash After September 19 Girl Assaults

The assault that sparked a statewide uproar unfolded in Jamui on 19 September 2024 when a Class‑X girl and a classmate were stopped by men, abused, and one was reportedly shot in the leg. The incident, captured on video, spread across social media and prompted the police to arrest all five alleged perpetrators, three of whom are minors.

Jamui is not the only district rattled by such incidents. In Darbhanga, a motorcycle rider allegedly tried to pull a schoolgirl’s dupatta off as she walked to school; in Samastipur, a girl was surrounded on a village road and dragged back every time she tried to leave; at Mandar Hill in Banka, three youths grabbed a young woman’s hand, abused her, threatened her, and forced her friend to pay ₹1,500 online.

The father of the Jamui victim told Times Now Digital that a "half‑encounter" is not enough, stressing the video’s viral spread has made it hard for his daughter to study in the district. He said, "In effect, she is the one who has lost her freedom of movement."

Opposition leaders seized the moment. Rahul Gandhi demanded the state explain why a girl is not safe on a public road at 7 pm; Priyanka Gandhi Vadra slammed the government for ignoring safety; Tejashwi Yadav called the chief minister "foolish and inept"; and Sarika Paswan warned that the government’s policies create an environment where men feel empowered to violate women.

Choudhary’s response was swift and controversial. On 22 September, he promised that anyone who challenged his police would get a reply within 24 hours. Two days later, he posted a photo on X of himself with the minor and her family, then deleted it, a move that violated the POCSO Act’s protections for child victims.

The incident also sparked a legal backlash. The Supreme Court ruled in November 2024 that demolishing an accused person’s home as punishment, without due process, is unconstitutional. The court’s decision will be examined in the next session, adding a new layer of scrutiny to the state’s punitive measures.

Bihar’s record in crimes against women is stark. NCRB’s 2024 report tallied 27,359 such crimes, up from 20,222 in 2022, while 1,44,844 cases remain pending in courts, a pendency rate of 97.9 per cent. The state spends less per head on police and judiciary than any other Indian state, highlighting systemic challenges.