Four persons, including two brothers, were apprehended by Odisha Police on Wednesday for the alleged assault of a 45-year-old woman and three youths. The victims were reportedly tied to an electric pole in Ganjam district on suspicion of theft.
The detained suspects are residents of Bhetanai village under the Kotinada police station limits in the district.
Kotinada police station Inspector-in-Charge, Damodar Bihari, stated the arrests were made after a formal complaint was filed by the woman and corroborated by preliminary evidence.
The incident took place early Tuesday when a mob reportedly arrived at the woman’s residence, forced their way inside, and abducted her son and two of his acquaintances, he said.
According to police, the three youths were subjected to a physical assault before being tied to electric poles in the village.
When the woman attempted to protect the youths, she was also restrained, “assaulted,” and tied to the same pole; the victims were eventually freed by other local residents, the officer said.
Police noted that some villagers suspected the victims’ involvement in local thefts, alleging that various unidentified individuals had frequently visited the woman’s home in the past.
