Bihar: Three detained after alleged molestation of woman at Mandar Parvat

The National Commission for Women NCW has taken suo motu cognisance of an alleged incident involving the public harassment molestation and assault of a young woman at the Mandar Parvat tourist site in Biharrsquos Banka districtThe action follows media reports and a video circulating on social media that allegedly shows a group of men surrounding and harassing the woman The video was reportedly edited in an objectionable manner and subsequently circulated onlineNCW seeks timebound probe action against accusedNCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar has written to the Bihar Director General of Police DGP calling for a timebound investigation identification and arrest of all those allegedly involved and strict action under the relevant provisions of law IANS reportedThe Commission has also directed that further circulation of the video be stopped and called for necessary security medical legal and psychological support for the woman and her familyThe NCW has sought an Action Taken Report ATR from the Bihar Police within seven days It also stressed that the safety dignity and privacy of women and girls must be protectedThree youths detained by Banka PoliceMeanwhile Banka Police have detained three youths in connection with the alleged molestation and are questioning them officials said IANS reportedAccording to the police the woman had visited Mandar Parvat with two friends when a group of youths allegedly accosted and harassed themPolice further alleged that the youths forced the woman to transfer Rs 1500 through PhonePe before allowing her and her friends to leaveThe video surfaced widely on social media around three days ago prompting police to register a case Preliminary investigation indicates that the incident itself occurred approximately twoandahalf months ago police saidPolice trace location shown in videoBanka Superintendent of Police Amitesh Kumar said the video came to the notice of Bounsi Police Station on September 22After examining the footage police suspected that the incident had taken place at Mandar Parvat The Station House Officer of Bounsi subsequently initiated an investigation and a police team was sent to Mandar Hill to verify the locationThe investigation confirmed that the place shown in the video was located on the hill following which an FIR was registered against unidentified personsPolice then began efforts to identify those visible in the footageThree youths questioned in connection with caseAccording to the SP information about three youths allegedly seen in the video was obtained on Thursday nightAll three are residents of the Barahat Police Station area and have been taken into custody for questioning police saidInvestigators are continuing to examine the video and other available evidence to establish the circumstances of the incident and determine the roles of those allegedly involved Further legal action will follow based on the findings of the investigationNCW seeks POCSO action if victim is minorThe NCW has also sought action under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences POCSO Act if the victim is found to be a minor along with applicable provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS and the Information Technology ActWith IANS inputs