A man and woman beaten over “inappropriate activities” in Noakhali’s Hatiya

Five people have been arrested after a video went viral of a man and a woman being publicly humiliated and tortured in Noakhali's Hatiya upazila over allegations of inappropriate activities. 

The video was leaked on social media on Sunday more than two weeks after the incident on 1 January.

Aggrieved, the woman filed a case on 5 January with the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal, bringing charges of attempted rape and beating after Hatiya police refused to register a complaint.

The accused attempted to use the video to blackmail her into withdrawing the lawsuit, but to no avail. They then circulated the footage.

That finally prompted the police to conduct a raid on Sunday night in different areas of Chanandi union of Hatiya and make the arrests.

Noakhali Superintendent of Police Mohammad Alamgir Hossain declined to comment when asked why they had not taken any action until the video was released.

According to a press briefing, the arrestees are Zia alias Jihad, 30; Md Faruk, 30; Nabir Uddin, 32; Alamgir Hossain, 40; and Abu Taher, 27.

During the briefing, the SP said that according to a police investigation, some locals apprehended the duo and beat them after seeing the woman, from Hatiya's Chanandi union, in the residence of the village doctor. 

"It [the beating] is a serious criminal offense," said SP Mohammad Alamgir.

Meanwhile, after the video went viral, the male victim filed another case with Hatia Police Station, against 11 individuals.