NEW DELHI: A video showing a large mob allegedly parading and assaulting a woman in Bihar’s Nalanda district went viral on social media on Tuesday, triggering a sharp political backlash. The opposition targeted the ruling NDA alliance over “collapsed” law and order in the state, calling it the “beginning of brutality akin to Manipur” .The incident, which took place in the Noor Sarai area a few days ago, came to light after the purported video surfaced online.Leader of the opposition in Bihar assembly, Tejashwi Yadav condemned the incident, calling it a “shameful incident in the home district of chief minister Nitish Kumar”. “It was a gang rape attempt. Those who misbehaved with the woman tore off her clothes. The incident presents a scary picture of the collapsed law and order in Bihar,” he alleged.RJD also took a swipe at the JDU government on social media, posting, “Nitish Kumar’s so-called ‘good governance’ is at its peak!” The Bihar Congress intensified its attack, drawing parallels with the Manipur incident where two women were paraded naked by a mob, and said the Nalanda case reflected a similar pattern of brutality. “Even before becoming the chief minister of BJP, the beginning of brutality akin to Manipur has occurred from Nitish Kumar’s home district in Bihar!” the party said.The Congress party echoed similar concerns, stating that the “woman was subjected to utterly disgusting treatment. The thugs publicly tore the woman’s clothes and made a video of it, which they then spread virally.” “This incident is a stain on society. Those responsible should receive the harshest of harsh punishments. This incident shows that ‘jungle raj’ prevails entirely in Bihar and women are not safe,” it added.Sharpening its attack, the party accused the ruling alliance of shielding criminals. “The BJP-JDU government has been providing protection to criminals, and now those very criminals are roaming the streets openly and carrying out such atrocities,” it added.Police said the woman filed a complaint on March 26, following which two accused, Ashok Yadav and Matlu Mahto, residents of Ajaypur village were arrested. Efforts are underway to nab others seen in the video, they added.
