Two Arrested After Muslim Woman Allegedly Forced to Wear Sindoor in Bihar’s Nawada
Police identify 15 suspects after a video of the alleged harassment circulated widely on social media.
Police in Bihar’s Nawada district have arrested two people for allegedly harassing a Muslim woman and forcing sindoor onto her forehead in an incident that has drawn widespread attention and raised concerns over communal harmony and women’s safety.
The arrested men have been identified as Dharmendra Kumar and Bahadur Chaudhary. According to police, they were part of a group of around 15 people who allegedly surrounded the woman and her male relative in the Madhopor, Charki Pahad, Kamalpur area.
The incident reportedly took place when the woman was returning home after appearing for an examination. She and her relative, who are both Muslims, had stopped near Charki Pahad to rest under a tree.
Police said the group allegedly harassed the pair, forced the woman to remove her niqab, and pressured her relative to apply sindoor on her forehead several times despite her repeated requests for them to stop.
A video of the incident surfaced on social media on July 8, showing the woman pleading with the group while they allegedly continued to harass the two.
Sub Divisional Police Officer Rahul Singh confirmed that both the woman and her companion are Muslims. He said police have identified all 15 people allegedly involved in the incident. Two suspects have been arrested, while efforts are continuing to locate and arrest the remaining accused.
According to the investigation, the woman and her relative attempted to leave the area on a motorcycle, but the group allegedly chased them and recorded videos without their consent.
Police also traced the motorcycle involved in the incident. It was registered in the name of Parvati Devi from Rajauli, who informed investigators that she had previously sold the vehicle to Feroza Khatoon from the Sirdala area.
The investigation is continuing, and police say action will be taken against all those found responsible. The incident has sparked fresh debate over communal tensions and the safety of women in public spaces.