Jamui assault case: Main accused Nandan Yadav shot in leg during police encounter

The main accused in the alleged assault and molestation of a Class 10 girl in Bihar’s Jamui was shot in the leg during an encounter with police early on Tuesday, officials said.

Nandan Yadav, who was identified as the man in bright orange headgear seen in the viral footage, was taken to hospital after sustaining the gunshot injury. Pictures showed Yadav, with his face still covered, being supported by security personnel as he was rushed for medical treatment.

Police said Yadav attempted to flee during the operation and opened fire at them, following which the personnel fired back in self-defence. He was subsequently arrested. Another accused was also arrested following the encounter, taking the total number of arrests in the case to five, according to police. Seven people have so far been identified in connection with the incident.

Video led to identification of accused

The case came to light after videos surfaced showing a group of men assaulting a Class 10 boy and allegedly molesting his female friend on September 19. The two minors had been returning from their coaching classes when they were intercepted by the group.

The students had reportedly travelled to the Madwa Pahad area in Jamui after coaching classes and were returning on a two-wheeler when the group stopped and surrounded them. Police later used the video footage to identify the suspects and trace the victims. An FIR was registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.

In the footage, the boy is seen being held by his collar while trying to protect the girl. Yadav then enters the frame, grabs the girl by the neck, spins her around and carries her for some distance. Her legs can be seen moving in the air as he runs with her.

The boy subsequently approaches Yadav and attempts to free the girl. Yadav puts her down and pushes her with the back of his hand while appearing to touch her chest. He continues pushing her as the boy shields her from the attackers.

Police intensify investigation

Bihar police have formed a special investigation team to trace the remaining suspects and have been conducting raids based on evidence gathered from the videos. Police have also begun action to remove footage that reveals the identities of the minor victims from social media platforms.

Separately, police have registered cases against around 120 social media account holders for allegedly circulating footage that revealed the identities of the minor victims. Officials have warned that sharing or reposting material that identifies minor victims is an offence.

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary said authorities were identifying everyone involved and assured that strict action would be taken against the accused.

State minister Shrawon Kumar also said the police had acted swiftly and that no one involved in the incident would be spared. He described the incident as tragic and shameful and said the government was working to prevent such incidents from occurring again.

The incident has also drawn condemnation from the Bihar State Women’s Commission, which said a team would meet the victim and gather details of the case. Jamui MLA and Sports Minister Shreyasi Singh also condemned the incident and said the administration was taking prompt action.