Popular TikTok video maker ‘Opu Bhai’ arrested, sent to jail

Police arrested popular TikTok video maker Yasin Arafat Opu, better known as "Opu Bhai" on social media, along with an accomplice, on charges of assaulting, harassing and beating people in Uttara area of the capital.

Opu (20) and Nazmul (21) were arrested from Uttara around 10:30pm on Monday, said Azizur Talukder, a sub-inspector of Uttara East Police Station, also the investigating officer of the case.

Police produced them before a Dhaka court today, praying for a three-day remand. The court sent the duo to jail.

TikTok and Likee (formerly Like) are China and Singapore based video-sharing social networking services, used for creating short dance, lip-sync, comedy and talent videos.

Hailing from Sonaimuri of Noakhali, Opu -- followed by millions on these two platforms -- is well-known for his unusual hairstyle, signature catchphrases and gestures on his TikTok and Likee videos. He recently came to Dhaka to make videos for the platforms and was staying at a house in Dakkhin Khan area.

The police officer said that Opu and his accomplices assaulted some locals in Uttara area on Sunday evening and a victim later filed a case.

Police said engineer Mehdi Hassan Robin was driving his car with three friends on Sunday evening when Opu and his associates were making videos on a road in sector-8 area. Robin honked as they blocked the road. Enraged, Opu and his accomplices beat them up. Robin and two others were seriously injured.

Hasibul Haque, a friend of Robin, posted a Facebook status after the incident that went viral.

Hasibul said that they were chatting near sector-8 area on August 2 evening when 60-70 teenagers and youths came and met with someone "with a weird hairstyle".

After some time, Hasibul's friend Robin came with his car. Later, three of their friends got in the car.

"Some yards ahead, the TikTok/Likee gang blocked the entire road. When Robin honked, the youths got enraged and hurled abusive words," he said.

"Robin asked, what is your problem? And some members of the group, without saying a word, started beating them up indiscriminately…They were beating up Robin and Shakir with helmet and sticks," Hasibul said.

He said at least 60 youths were assaulting seven of their friends when they appeared on the scene.

"When asked, why they were beating us, they replied: 'We run whole Bangladesh. In just five minutes, 500 people will join us. Tell your father that we beat you…" Hasibul quoted one of the attackers.

Police said, Opu and 20-25 others were accused in the case. The charges are: unlawful assembly, unjustly obstructing work, assaulting and causing injuries to the plaintiff and also stealing goods.

Nabid Kamal Shaibal, deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Uttara Division), said they will investigate whether Opu and his associates were an "aspiring teen gang" and also they will investigate their involvement with drugs and other criminal activities.