Content creator Ripon Mia arrested in for raping schoolgirl in Netrakona

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested content creator Ripon Mia in connection with a rape case involving a 13-year-old schoolgirl in Sadar upazila of Netrokona.

The suspect was arrested during a raid in Gouripur of Mymensingh, on Thursday night, authorities said on Friday (August 7).

Major Mir Ishtiaq Amin, commander of RAB-14's Headquarters Company, confirmed the arrest, saying the operation was carried out based on intelligence inputs and digital surveillance.

Following the arrest, Ripon was handed over to Netrokona Model Police Station for further legal proceedings, he said.

The case was filed on Tuesday night by the victim's father, who accused Ripon Mia of rape and also named eight unidentified individuals as co-accused. Police said the suspect had been in hiding since the case was lodged.

According to Netrokona Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abul Khayer, a local arbitration meeting was allegedly held at a BNP party office in a nearby market on Monday night following the incident. The gathering reportedly decided to fine Ripon Tk 5,00,000 and asked him to leave the area. A video of the meeting later circulated on social media, drawing widespread public attention.

The victim's family and local residents alleged that the assault took place on August 1, when the girl was cooking in the yard of her home. They claimed Ripon forcibly took her into a nearby wooded area and raped her while both of her parents were away at work.

According to the complaint, local residents rushed to the scene after hearing the girl's screams, prompting the accused to flee.

Police said the allegations are under investigation and that the facts of the case will be determined through judicial proceedings.