Patna, July 26 — Hours after a shocking case emerged from Bihar involving the alleged gang rape of a 26-year-old woman in a moving ambulance, Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan launched a scathing attack on the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government in the state, calling the law and order situation “almost out of control.”
The alleged assault took place on July 24 during a Home Guard recruitment test held at the Bihar Military Police Grounds in Bodh Gaya. According to the FIR lodged by the survivor, she had fainted during the exercise and was being transported to a hospital in an ambulance when she was allegedly raped by the driver and a technician on board.
Police have arrested both suspects, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) along with a forensic team has been deployed to probe the case. Officials confirmed that CCTV footage has validated the route and timeline cited in the woman’s complaint.
Speaking to reporters in Patna before departing for Gayaji to address a rally, Paswan, whose party is an ally in the BJP-led NDA at the Centre, said the incident reflected a complete collapse of governance in Bihar.
“I feel sorry to support a government which is failing to maintain basic law and order,” the Hajipur MP said. “The situation has turned scary. There are daily reports of murder, kidnapping, dacoity, and rape. Authorities have completely failed to check the rising crime.”
Paswan said the government’s failure stems from both administrative incompetence and an apparent nexus with criminal elements. “There are claims that the surge in crime is politically motivated ahead of the polls to tarnish the government’s image. Even if that were true, it is still the administration’s duty to prevent such lawlessness,” he added.
This marks Paswan’s second public rebuke of the JDU-led state government within nine days. On July 17, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Patna, he had criticised the state’s handling of crime. “The morale of criminals is sky high,” he had said at the time.
The fresh allegations and Paswan’s condemnation have further strained intra-coalition dynamics in Bihar, where law and order is once again dominating the political discourse in the lead-up to the state assembly elections.
