A viral video from a Bihar Class 12 exam centre shows a female reporter surrounded, mocked and pushed by male students during a post-exam interview prompting widespread condemnation, calls for accountability and official verification by Bihar police.
At a board exam centre in Bihar, a routine interview with a female journalist took a troubling turn as scores of male students swarmed her, invading her personal space and subjecting her to mocking remarks and harassment. The now widely-viewed clip on X shows one examinee responding to a seemingly harmless question about the exam with suggestive comments, while others jeer, laugh and brush past the reporter.
Several students were seen pushing and shoving the reporter, shouting at her and the camera crew, creating a chaotic and distressing scene that highlighted the vulnerability of women journalists in crowded public spaces. The behaviour triggered sharp criticism from netizens, journalists’ bodies and women’s rights activists who described it as both sexist and unacceptable.
Relatively little information has emerged about the identities of those involved, though local discourse around the clip reflects anger over the normalisation of such behaviour. Some comments on social platforms questioned bystanders’ lack of intervention as students recorded and watched the harassment unfold without stepping in.
Officials Respond; No FIR Yet, Investigation Underway
State authorities have acknowledged the incident but details remain limited. Bihar police sources told some media outlets that officials were “verifying the precise location and participants in the video” before taking formal action, indicating that the clip would be examined to determine whether any offences under the Indian Penal Code or Protection of Women from Sexual Harassment Act had occurred.
Representatives from journalistic associations have urged law enforcement to act swiftly and publicly, decrying what they call the erosion of safety especially for female reporters who frequently drive vox-pop interviews around examinations, public events and protests. To date, however, no official FIR or charges have been reported in national news services.
The Press Club of India and other media unions have condemned the incident, calling on educational authorities and police to ensure the protection of journalists carrying out routine coverage, as well as to take steps to educate students about professional boundaries and respect. statements from these bodies, while widespread on social media and organisational releases, have not yet been captured in major news outlets.
Growing Debate on Safety, Respect and Youth Conduct
This episode adds to broader concerns about how young people conduct themselves in public interactions — particularly with women in professional roles. Commentators say that harassment, even when couched in humour or defiance, can have serious psychological impacts and reflects deeper gaps in attitudes toward gender, respect and civic behaviour.
In recent years, India has witnessed several high-profile incidents involving journalists facing threats or violence while on duty, including cases within campus protests where reporters have been accused of inappropriate conduct by crowds, and in other settings where women in media have been verbally and physically targeted.
While each situation has distinct circumstances and contested narratives, legal experts and media advocates argue that the cumulative effect undermines press freedom and personal safety.
Critics further highlight that crowded places like examination exits, protests or rallies can quickly become unsafe for journalists without clear protocols for crowd management and bystander responsibility. They call for a renewed focus on media literacy, gender sensitivity training in schools and universities, and robust mechanisms to deter harassment.
Why This Matters: Gender, Media and Public Behaviour
The Bihar video has struck a chord because it captures, in a single moment, issues that are all too common: the presence of unchecked male entitlement, the vulnerability of women in public roles, and the digital amplification of harassment. Many observers argue that while humour and casual banter are part of youth culture, they cannot serve as a shield for conduct that demeans or unsettles others especially professionals performing their job.
Medical, legal and educational professionals note that harassment is not merely a “viral moment” but part of a pattern where women, particularly reporters and public figures, face disproportionate scrutiny and physical intrusion. While Indian law provides avenues for redress, the effectiveness of those mechanisms depends on timely reporting, decisive enforcement and sustained public pressure.
The broader conversation also intersects with regional stereotypes and narratives about student behaviour. In some discussions online, users defended the accused students as “just joking”, whereas others emphasised that the problem is not confined to one state but reflects a national challenge.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
At The Logical Indian, we believe that dignity, respect and empathy must underpin all public interactions especially in spaces that are meant to be civic and educational.
Journalism plays a vital role in shaping public discourse and informing citizens; when practitioners are subjected to harassment in the course of their duties, it not only endangers individuals but erodes the norms of mutual respect that a democratic society depends on.
Harassment cannot be brushed off as “student mischief” or herd behaviour. It reflects deeper social attitudes that normalise disrespect and trivialise women’s professional presence. True change requires accountability not only legal, but cultural: through education, awareness and active bystander engagement.
