Locals beat up and handed over a man to police over accusations of raping a seven-year-old girl in Senbagh upazila of Noakhali last night.

Md Sohel, 34, an auto-rickshaw driver, is currently in police custody, said Md Abdur Rahim Sarkar, officer-in-charge (OC) of Senbagh Police Station.

According to the victim’s family and local residents, the accused was caught around 8:00pm after a mass beating and handed over to police.

Police said preparations are underway to file a case in connection with the incident. “Necessary legal action will be taken based on the complaint filed by the victim’s family,” the OC added.

Family members alleged that the child’s mother witnessed the incident and confronted the driver, who fled the scene. As news spread, locals began searching for him. Around 7:30pm, Sohel was allegedly caught in Notun Bazar area, after which residents called the national emergency service number 999 before handing him over to police.