Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday (January 18, 2026) hit out at the Nitish Kumar-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government over the death of a National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) aspirant who was also sexually assaulted, according to a postmortem report.
Mr. Yadav said that law and order had been buried in Bihar and alleged that the government was treating criminals and thugs as its “guests” and was trying to protect and honor them.
“The corrupt system and machine-made twin-engine government of NDA has become a reliable tool for oppressors, corrupt individuals, criminals and thugs. The insensitive Nita government in Bihar, created by buying votes, is committing atrocities on minor girls, students, daughters and women across the state,” Yadav said in a post on social media platform X.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader further alleged that atrocities against women continue unchecked and that key figures in the government are maintaining a hypocritical silence on the horrific incidents while projecting themselves as saints.
Mr. Yadav alleged that a widow was gang-raped and murdered in Madhepura, a four-year-old girl was raped and murdered in Khagaria and that a NEET aspirant was raped and murdered in Patna.
“These incidents show that this government has become ruthless, cruel and inhuman. In Patna and Khagaria, the incompetent police resorted to lathi charge against the protesters and sent them to jail. Let the corrupt police explain why RJD leaders and workers were beaten up and booked for demanding the arrest of criminals who raped and murdered Khagaria girls in Patna?” asked Mr. Yadav.
Terming Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s silence as criminal, he said that even media people might not remember the last time the Chief Minister spoke to them.
“If the power-backed and power-protected criminals, along with their sympathizers sitting in government, do not stop their oppression, the public will show its anger,” Mr. Yadav said in the post.
The state government has already formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case and Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, who also holds the Home Ministry portfolio, said on Sunday that whoever is found responsible will be punished.
The incident took place under Chitragupt Nagar police station limits where the girl was found unconscious in the hostel on January 6. She died in a private hospital during treatment five days later on January 11.
The police had earlier termed it a case of suicide and ruled out foul play, while family members of the deceased claimed it was a “cover-up”.
The SIT on Sunday visited Sahajanand Hospital where the girl was first taken for treatment but was not admitted and later shifted to Prabhat Memorial Hospital where she underwent initial treatment. The team also visited another hospital as part of the investigation.
Reacting to Mr Yadav’s statement, ruling Janata Dal (US) President Umesh Singh Kushwaha accused him of spreading misinformation due to lack of factual knowledge.
Mr. Kushwaha said that under the Nitish Kumar government, criminals were not protected, unlike the Lalu Prasad-Rabri Devi regime, and that there was no policy of delaying, thwarting or diverting criminal cases.
“The present government is taking swift action against criminal incidents in a transparent and impartial manner and the culprits are being punished in time,” Kushwaha said.
He added, “Regarding the Madhepura incident, the government formed an SIT and the accused were arrested and sent to jail. Similarly, in the Khagaria incident, the police immediately intervened, arrested the accused and sent them to jail.”
Mr. Kushwaha further said, “The incident involving the NEET student is extremely tragic. The government has also formed a SIT in this case and a thorough investigation is underway. The hostel owner has also been arrested and sent to jail. Strict action will be taken against anyone found guilty after investigation. No one will be spared.”
Published – 18 Jan 2026 20:12 IST
