Molestation accused in Bihar let off with sit-ups by panchayat, police step in

A 22-year-old man in a village in Bihar’s Nawada district, who was accused of attempting to molest a fiveyear-old girl, was let off by the local panchayat with the minimal punishment of “five sit-ups while holding ears” (uthakbaithak), police said, adding that a case was lodged against the youth after the matter came to light.

The panchayat diktat was pronounced on November 21 by a former mukhia in Akbarpur police station area.

The matter came to light on Wednesday evening when a video clip purportedly showing the accused doing sit-ups and a crowd verbally abusing the youth began circulating on the social media.

According to police, the girl’s family complained to the panchayat, which ruled that the youth was not guilty of molestation, but took the minor to a secluded place for unknown reasons.

One of the members of the panchayat, who did not wish to be quoted, said, “The family members of the girl were told not to register a police complaint against the accused and settle the matter through panchayat, as registering FIR will bring bad name to their families.”

Nawada superintendent of police (SP) Dr Gaurav Mangla said a case has been lodged with the Akbarpur police station against the accused and the matter is being probed.

Ajay Kumar, station house officer (SHO) of Akbarpur police station, said the girl’s father has alleged that the youth touched her daughter in an unappropriate manner. Suspecting that the youth tried to molest her, the family filed a complaint before the panchayat.

A 22-YEAR-OLD MAN ALLEGEDLY MOLESTED A FIVE-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN NAWADA