Bihar molestation case: Main accused Nandan Yadav injured in police encounter

Main accused Nandan Yadav injured in police encounter in Jamui, hospitalisedJAMUI: Nandan Yadav, the main accused in the Jamui minor molestation and assault case, was injured in a police encounter on Tuesday and has been admitted to a hospital for treatment, police said. Yadav sustained a bullet injury in leg, according to officials.Police said the encounter took place during an operation to apprehend Yadav. Further details about the circumstances of the encounter and his condition are awaited.The incident was recorded on camera, and video clips later circulated widely on social media.The incident took place on Saturday when the girl had gone to Marwa Pahad with a male classmate on a scooter after attending coaching classes. While the two were returning in the evening, a group of youths allegedly stopped and surrounded them, forced them off the scooter, and abused and questioned them.Videos of the incident showed the youths allegedly harassing and touching the girl inappropriately. Her male friend was also allegedly manhandled. When the two tried to escape, the youths allegedly chased and assaulted them. The ordeal reportedly lasted 15-20 minutes before the students managed to flee.Two video clips surfaced on social media on Monday, prompting police action.“The girl and her friend were traced and their statements were recorded. After receiving a written complaint from the girl, an FIR was registered. All the youths visible in the videos have been identified,” Jamui SP Vishwajit Dayal said.The SP constituted an SIT headed by SDPO Deepti Monali to investigate the case. Police said seven-eight people were booked under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the POCSO Act based on the video footage. Three accused were initially taken into custody, while raids were launched to apprehend the others.Police have also initiated steps to remove the videos from social media and warned against their further circulation, as they could reveal the identity of the minor.Investigators are scrutinising the criminal records, if any, of the accused and analysing the videos and other evidence to establish the role of each person involved.The incident also triggered a political response, with opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav, targeting the Samrat Choudhary-led Bihar government over law and order. BJP leaders rejected the allegations.The National Commission for Women and the Bihar State Women's Commission also took cognisance of the case. NCW chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar wrote to the Bihar DGP seeking action against the accused and a detailed action-taken report within seven days.