The brother of Congress Councillor Rakesh Chaudhary and his aides brutally assaulted a woman over a money-lending issue in Punjab’s Muktsar on Friday, 14 June, news agency ANI reported.
The incident came to light after a video of the men thrashing the woman went viral.
The woman was whipped with a leather belt, punched and kicked by the men after being dragged out of her house for allegedly failing to repay Rs 23,000 she had borrowed from one of them, according to PTI.
In the video, the councillor and his aides can be seen beating the woman even as her minor son is heard wailing. Towards the end of the video, the men are seen assaulting the woman's mother as she tries to rescue her daughter.
Six people have been arrested so far, PTI reported, quoting police.
The woman has been admitted to civil hospital where she is undergoing treatment.
"This is an extremely unfortunate incident. We have arrested six people and will push for severe punishment. The victim is admitted to hospital,” ANI quoted Muktsar's Senior Superintendent of Police, Manjit Singh Dhesi, as saying on Saturday.
Suresh Chaudhary, Roop Lal, Sunny Chaudhary, Guddi, Sekhu and Jebo have been arrested, while four others — Rakesh Chaudhary, Hassan, Renu and Jyoti — are on the on the run, police reportedly said, adding that they have been booked under several charges, including attempt to murder.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh condemned the incident and said such acts of violence will not be tolerated.
"Accused in the video from Muktsar have been arrested by Punjab Police and booked for attempt to murder u/s 307 IPC. No one is above the law and such acts of violence will not be tolerated (sic)," he tweeted.
(With inputs from ANI and PTI)
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