BIHAR: Panchayat orders female students to not attend college after 3 girls face harassment

New Delhi: In a bizarre decision, village Panchayat in Bihar’s Saharasa ordered girls to refrain from going to schools and colleges after a group of three girls were allegedly harassed on their way to coaching classes. The Panchayat has ordered that no girls would go to schools or colleges unless their safety is ensured, news agency PTI said citing officials. Two men have been arrested in connection with the alleged harassment which was the state’s second harassment instance with female students. Quoting  Saharsa Superintendent of Police Rakesh Kumar, the agency said that the incident was reported at Ekpadha village where a group of men allegedly misbehaved with girls who were going to their coaching classes on their bicycle. When two brothers of one of the girls tried to put up a resistance, they were also beaten up by the accused, the district police chief said. In the wake of the incident, the village Panchayat ruled that unless and until adequate security measures were taken, girls would not be allowed to attend colleges or coaching classes. The Panchayat’s decree affects 17 girls from the village and the district administration is reportedly trying to convince guardians to allow them to resume studies. Earlier this week in Bihar’s Supaul as many as 34 girl students had to be taken to hospital after they were thrashed brutally by some audacious goons who broke inside their school hostel premises. The incident which shook the entire state, took place just because the girls had raised their voice against the miscreants who used to harass the school going girls. Nine persons, including three women, were arrested in connection with the assault. (With PTI inputs)