The assault on two school students ~ a girl and a boy, both teenagers ~ in Bihar’s Jamui district is a test of more than policing. It challenges the social assumption that a young woman’s movements and associations are subject to scrutiny, and sometimes punishment, by men who appoint themselves guardians of morality.

The violence against the girl and her male friend demands accountability, but the circumstances also expose a deeper struggle over personal freedom and dignity. The reported arrests, formation of a special investigation team and police action are necessary steps. Yet the case has also raised questions about how the authorities learned of the assault. The teenagers reportedly did not initially approach the police; investigators traced them after footage circulated online.

This sequence deserves examination, without presuming that the victims’ silence reflects any failure. Shame, fear of exposure and concern about family or social consequences can complicate reporting, especially for minors. The circulation of the footage compounds the original violation. A recording intended to expose wrongdoing can become another instrument of humiliation when it reveals the identities of........

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